Betfred World Championship day four betting preview, news and tips

TV: BBC & Eurosport, from 10amTuesday

Stuart Bingham v Graeme Dott 10am

Stuart Bingham and Graeme Dott have both enjoyed World Championship glory and there is unlikely to be an emphatic winner when the Sheffield specialists do battle in this year’s opening round.

A few qualifiers have been given a tanking at this year’s event but those who have were Crucible debutants and Dott, a champion in 2006 and a two-time runner-up, will have no problem soaking up the pressure.

Dott has struggled for large parts of the season but he tends to come to the fore with Sheffield on the horizon and convincing victories at the qualifiers suggest he may have peaked again.

The Pocket Rocket dropped just eight frames in seeing off Hamza Akbar, Xu Si and Kurt Maflin and he can keep close tabs on Bingham.

Ball-run is undoubtedly the one to beat and he has enjoyed a successful season on the baize with title triumphs at the English Open and in Gibraltar.

But since lifting the World Championship in 2015, Bingham has won only one match in his last three visits and was beaten 10-7 in the opening round by Jack Lisowski last season.

Bingham has the edge but this could be tight and backing over the frames is the way to go.

Recommendation
Over 16.5 frames
1pt 21-20 Hills

Judd Trump v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2.30pm

Judd Trump has long been many people's idea of this season's world champion and punters should expect fireworks when he kicks off his title tilt against lightning-quick Thai Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Un-Nooh is a dangerous operator who is as good as anyone in and around the black and Trump will need to be fully wound up to come through unscathed.

The Thai will have learnt plenty from last season’s Crucible debut, when he lost 10-7 to John Higgins in the opening round, and he can again showcase his scoring talents.

Un-Nooh mustered breaks of 121 and 112 in that respectable defeat against the legendary Scot and the man who has twice compiled a 147 is worth backing to make a break of more than 110.

Trump has had difficulty producing his best at this venue but he has looked a more complete player this season and it will be a massive surprise if he is denied.

Recommendation
T Un-Nooh highest break over 110
1pt 19-10 Betfred

Mark Allen v Zhou Yuelong 7pm

Zhou Yuelong's first taste of the Betfred World Championship didn't end well and his second shot at it may not last long either.

Yuelong was beaten 10-5 by classy compatriot Ding Junhui two years ago and despite three convincing victories in qualifying, Mark Allen should have his measure.

The Northern Irishman has been one of this season's form players - he lifted the International Championship and the Scottish Open as well as making the final of the UK Championship - and is third behind Neil Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan on the one-year ranking list.

The Pistol rarely disappoints and he should boss his opponent in every department.

Yuelong has a fine temperament and is by no means a back number but he made just one quarter-final this season, which came in a weak field in Gibralter, and he has generally struggled to stay competitive against the game's elite.

Recommendations
M Allen -3.5 frames on handicap
1pt 11-10 Coral

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