Masters final: Stuart Bingham v Ali Carter snooker betting preview and free tip

When to watch

BBC2/Eurosport 2, 1pm & 7pm Sunday

Best bet

Over 16.5 frames
1pt 10-11 Hills

Final preview

It's an all-Essex battle in the race to be the newest first-time Masters champion and there's plenty of history between final combatants Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter.

The pair live pretty much down the road from each other and have successfully represented Essex snooker for decades, yet Bingham and Carter are not best pals and will be giving their all for the second major title of the season.

Bingham is chasing a second career major following his triumph in the 2015 World Championship, while Carter, who has battled a number of serious illnesses, is hoping to land a first big-three crown.

With so much at stake, it seems likely to be competitive. If anyone is likely to put space between himself and his opponent it is probably Bingham, and for that reason the oddsmakers are right to have found in his favour.

But while there may be not quite as much lustre on the Masters trophy as there was when Stephen Hendry, for example, used to farm the tournament, Carter has seen off former winners and top players Mark Selby, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy this week so should at least be capable of keeping tabs on Bingham.

It's best of 19 frames at Alexandra Palace and backing over 16.5 frames to be contested at a shade of odds-on could be the way to go.

Carter leads their series 15-11 (with one draw), but in terms of frames won the duo are inseparable on 95-95.

Bingham, 25-1 for Masters joy before a ball was struck and backed at 33-1 in December, has dominated their last seven clashes and the frames in that period tally 33-8.

That could be a concern for Carter fans but the Captain, who was 80-1 ante-post and has touched 100-1 in play, looks a lot more competitive this year and there is hope that he can at least keep the scoreline respectable.

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