Mark Selby v Stuart Bingham predictions and snooker betting tips

Free snooker analysis for the first Betfred World Championship snooker semi-final at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Thursday.

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1, 1pm Thursday

est bet

Over 5.5 centuries
1pt 8-11 bet365, Hills

Semi-final preview

Mark Selby will meet Stuart Bingham for a place in the final of the Betfred World Championship after both players came through their quarter-final tests in differing fashion on Wednesday.

Selby enjoyed a last-eight cakewalk over Mark Williams, defeating the Welsh three-time Crucible hero 13-3 without the need for a final session.

However, Bingham had to dig deep to deny Anthony McGill. The Scot, who was intent on improving on his semi-final effort last August, managed to produce the required level for only a few frames on Tuesday night and the rest of the time it was qualifier Bingham who looked mentally stronger.

Bingham deserves huge credit for the way he is playing. He pulled out a great break in the deciding frame of his first-round clash with Ding Junhui and the Essex ace has not looked back.

The 2015 champion, who defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy to win the title that year, is showing a magnificent temperament for the big occasion.

But Bingham knows he will be up against quite possibly the steeliest player on the circuit in Selby, who had to sit back and watch in the semis last season as Ronnie O'Sullivan produced three of the finest frames in snooker history to deny the Jester a final berth.

It's 18-17 to Bingham in their series (with one drawn encounter) and that tells you that the Basildon bomber is not frightened of three-time champ Selby.

Bingham has won five of their last six meetings, although as Selby showed when totally freezing out Mark Allen in the second round, recent form is not always king.

Both players are on a mission - Selby after his semi-final disappointment last season and Bingham trying to just the ranks of multiple world champions.

Bookmakers rate Selby 2-7 and Bingham is 29-10 to land an upset but the best bet is for these two in-form players to serve up a high-scoring affair. Take them to reach six centuries between them in the race to 17 frames.

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