Turkish Masters predictions, snooker betting tips and winner odds: Back Higgins

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for the Turkish Masters at the Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel in Antalya, Turkey.

Where to watch

Live on Eurosport 1 & 2, from 9am Monday

Best bet

John Higgins
2pts each-way 11-2 Hills

Tournament preview

It has been a case of so near yet so far for John Higgins this season but the legendary Scot can claim some much-deserved silverware at the inaugural Turkish Masters.

Higgins has made four ranking event finals this season but won only once - beating Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Players Championship - and must be getting sick of playing second fiddle.

But with O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson and Mark Selby not travelling to Turkey, Higgins is one of the leading attractions and he ought to make his presence felt with his draw.

The world number six was an early casualty at the Welsh Open but he bumped into a determined Ali Carter and can make amends in Antalya.

Judd Trump will have plenty of followers given the high-profile absentees after his run to the final of last week’s Welsh Open, but Higgins is housed away from him in a much weaker top half.

The Wizard of Wishaw has landed in a very winnable second quarter, opening up against Dylan Emery before a potential last-32 duel with Lukas Kleckers or Michael Holt.

Over this best-of-nine format it is difficult to see Higgins failing to deliver against those opponents, and his toughest test before the quarter-finals would come from compatriots Graeme Dott or Scott Donaldson.

Kyren Wilson, Ding Junhui or Anthony McGill could be lurking in the last eight but on current form neither should concern him, while Zhao Xintong is by far his toughest possible test in the last four.

After his recent return to form in Wales, Trump is rightly favourite but Ricky Walden, Mark Williams, Luca Brecel and Carter are in his quarter of the draw, so things look tough from the get-go.

Xintong, who is number one on the one-year ranking list, has to be feared given he has landed in a soft first quarter but defying Higgins in the semi-finals may be beyond him.

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