Betfred World Championship first-round predictions & odds: Trump enters the fray

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

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1 | 10am, 2.30pm & 7pm Tuesday

Best bets

Lyu Haotian +4.5 frames v Mark Allen
1pt 4-6 Coral

Lyu Haotian century break v Mark Allen
1pt 4-6 bet365

Liam Highfield +6.5 frames v Judd Trump
1pt 4-7 Coral

Over 15.5 frames in Barry Hawkins v Matt Selt
2pts 8-15 Coral

Mark Allen v Lyu Haotian 10am

Mark Allen was undone by Jamie Clarke in last year's Betfred World Championship and the Antrim ace may again need to turn on the style to deny impressive youngster Lyu Haotian.

The Pistol enjoyed comfy 5-2 and 5-1 victories over Lyu in 2012 and 2018, so Allen may be suited to playing the Chinese 23-year-old.

However, Lyu is a talented operator and ousted Chang Bingyu 10-6 in the final round of qualifying for the Crucible with runs of 131, 114 and 100.

The outsider can be backed on the handicap receiving 4.5 frames from Allen and Lyu is also worth a punt to make at least one ton.

Judd Trump v Liam Highfield 2.30pm

Judd Trump remains the man to beat at the Crucible this year, but it would be remiss to think the 2019 champion can produce brilliance every time he goes to the table.

The experienced players know this event is a marathon and not a sprint, and Liam Highfield, Trump's opening opponent, has been around long enough to give the world number one a respectable battle.

Highfield, who did well to oust Fan Zhengyi, Elliot Slessor and world number 17 Zhou Yuelong in qualifying, looks the call with a start of 6.5 frames.

Trump is going to have to perform well to cross the line before the Swindon potter, who has a victory to his name over the Bristolian, wins four frames.

Barry Hawkins v Matt Selt 7pm

There has been good support for Matt Selt to upset Barry Hawkins and the outsider is certainly proactive on the baize.

This has the potential to be close, but while the feeling is that the Hawk, a semi-finalist in the Players and Tour Championships this year, remains the classier performer, their last three meetings have gone to the wire so going over the total frames looks the way to go for punters.

Hawkins edges their personal series 5-4 but Selt, who defeated good friend Stephen Hendry and Hawkins on the way to reaching the semi-finals of the Gibraltar Open early last month, has won four of their last six clashes.

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