The Masters: Sunday snooker tips, odds and predictions

Free snooker tips for Sunday's matches at The Masters at Alexandra Palace in London.

Where to watch

BBC2 & Eurosport, from 1pm Sunday

Best bets

Mark Selby v Ali Carter over 9.5 frames
1pt 11-8 Hills

Masters first-round match previews

Mark Selby v Ali Carter (7pm)

Three-times Masters champion Mark Selby continues to win events despite not consistently playing at his best.

Currently sitting at number four in the world, Selby remains a handful for anyone with his hardened matchplay and phenomenal bottle, which makes his first-round match with the equally gritty Ali Carter an intriguing contest.

Carter was the beneficiary of Ronnie O'Sullivan's decision to pull out this week, but he won't care and will rightly come here with the belief that his game is good enough to see off anyone.

Twice a Crucible finalist, it is surprising that in 12 Masters appearances he has only won two matches.

Heavy scoring and one-visit snooker is unlikely to be on the menu, resulting in plenty of tactical play and scrappy action which could develop into a real war of attrition.

Selby is fancied to eventually come out on top, but the safest play here may be for this one to go long into the night.

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