Betfred World Championship first-round predictions & odds: Clash of major champs

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for day three of the Betfred World Championship on Monday.

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport | 10am, 2.30pm & 7pm Monday

Best bets

Ding Junhui to beat Stuart Bingham
1pt 5-6 BoyleSports

Kyren Wilson -1.5 frames v Gary Wilson
1pt 1-2 BoyleSports

Ali Carter to beat Jack Lisowski
1pt Evs general

Ding Junhui v Stuart Bingham 10am

The bookmakers are struggling to split Ding Junhui and Stuart Bingham in what could prove to be one of the clashes of the opening round of the Betfred World Championship and the early support has been for the Essex ace, who leads their personal series 10-6.

Bingham was deservedly crowned world champion in 2015, the late developer showing his quality in Sheffield six years ago with victories over Crucible kings Graeme Dott, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy, and he has since gone on to land another major crown in the Masters last year.

He had to qualify this season after losing his place in the top 16, but Bingham made light work of Chen Zifan 6-1 and Luca Brecel 10-5, compiling two breaks of 140 against the Belgian in the final round.

Between 2011 and 2016 Bingham defeated Ding eight times on the spin, but Ding then had the upper hand in two further 2016 clashes.

The pair haven't played since then but while Bingham, as usual, looks on top of his game, this offers an opportunity for Ding to eat into his series deficit.

After experiencing a form lull when becoming a father, Ding has performed more promisingly this season and the four-time major champion, who is seeded ninth in his city of residence this year, could remind the partial audience of his brilliance on the baize.

Kyren Wilson v Gary Wilson 10am

Gary Wilson has done well to rediscover better form after a fallow phase and he made a 147 in the WST Series in January. The Geordie, a Crucible semi-finalist two years ago, can be a dangerous opponent when he's on top of his game, but the fact that he endured a confidence-sapping lull in the first half of the campaign remains a concern

Kyren Wilson, who the qualifier opens against, is one of the most consistent performers in the top 16 and it's no surprise to see the Warrior a warm order to progress.

It's surely only a matter of time before the Kettering cueman, runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible last August, lands a first major and the favourite's extra class and consistency is likely to win the day.

Most firms give Gary Wilson a handicap start of 2.5 frames but, by way of greater insurance, it may be worth taking a shorter price about Kyren Wilson, who leads 6-3 in previous meetings, making light of a concession of 1.5 frames.

Gary Wilson's form in the qualifiers was pretty good – he beat Gerard Green 6-4 and Steven Hallworth 10-3 with runs of 131, 86, 84, 82, 79 (twice) and 76, but his opening main-draw task is likely to prove a lot tougher.

Jack Lisowski v Ali Carter 2.30pm

Ali Carter seems to like competing against Jack Lisowski on the baize. The pair have played only three matches before – Lisowski shaded their first clash in 6-5 in China in 2015, but Carter has since beaten the Gloucestershire potter 10-6 in the first round of the 2019 World Championship and 2-0 in the WST Series last month.

The latest victory is a boost for fans of qualifier Carter, but the more important victory is surely their previous Crucible rumble, when the Captain put daylight between himself and Lisowski.

Little has changed in the pair's games since. Lisowski's game is slightly better than it was two years ago but his game-plan has barely altered, while Carter has come through a difficult period and seems to be back performing positively again.

The Essex ace, 41, has twice reached the world final, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2008 and 2012, and still has a live chance of going one better at the Crucible in his career.

Carter's victories in the qualifiers over Pang Junxu (6-4) and Alexander Ursenbacher (10-4) are difficult to fault and the determined Captain looks the bet to extend his series lead over Lisowski.

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