Champion of Champions day three predictions and snooker betting tips

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for day three of the Champion of Champions in Bolton on Wednesday.

Where to watch

ITV4, from 1pm Wednesday

Best bet

Over 5.5 frames in Shaun Murphy v Yan Bingtao
1pt 4-7 Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

The bottom half of the Champion of Champions draw is going to take a lot more winning than the top half and the more competitive action gets going in Bolton on Wednesday when the fourth-quarter matches take place.

Rather oddly titled as Group Two, since it's in the bottom section of the draw and the third of the groups to be contested, the section comprises Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Yan Bingtao and Dave Gilbert, all vying for the one semi-final place available and it looks fair to expect potentially close matches.

Selby could pull away from Gilbert in his opener, but the Tamworth cueman looks to be playing well enough to make the Jester from Leicester pull out the stops.

The same could be said about seventh seed Murphy in his clash with Yan, but the Chinese player is getting better and better and the Magician may now find it tougher to dominate his opponent.

The best bet of the day three first-round action, in which all matches are played over the best of seven frames, could be to back over 5.5 frames to be contested in Murphy's rumble with Yan.

The Chinese youngster is not always the most alert performer on the circuit so will need to be on his game from the outset in his opener. But he has started the season on the front foot and the chance can be taken to back Masters champion Yan to keep tabs on his more illustrious opponent.

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