Welsh Open: semi-final betting preview, odds, tip & TV details

Semi-finals
BBC2 Wales, BBC red button, Eurosport 1 & Quest, 1pm & 7pm Saturday

Hossein Vafaei has again shown his competitive instinct in the Welsh Open and the Iranian could make life uncomfortable for title favourite Neil Robertson in the second semi-final clash on Saturday evening.

It's best of 11 frames on the penultimate day of the final Home Nations series event and Robertson's grip on the outright market has strengthened following Joe O'Connor's superb 5-3 quarter-final victory over last year's winner John Higgins on Friday.

Leicester cueman O'Connor, who was 3,000-1 to go all the way earlier this week, has been nibbled at to upset Stuart Bingham in the first last-four clash at lunchtime on Saturday.

But while the prices seem about right in that one, there's a case for believing that Vafaei could get his teeth into Robertson, who only just survived his quarter-final outing when fighting back from 3-0 down to pip Kurt Maflin 5-4.

After losing the opening frame to last-eight opponent Scott Donaldson, Vafaei eased to a 5-1 victory over the methodical Scot. A date with the best Australian player in the game's history (yes, even better than 1952 world champion Horace Lindrum) is likely to be a tougher assignment, but Vafaei is not expected to be fazed by his task.

He's 8-15 with a handicap start of 3.5 frames which can be considered, but the 4-6 that the clash lasts for more than 8.5 frames is a more palatable price.

Recommendation
Over 8.5 frames in H Vafaei v N Robertson
1pt 4-6 Betfair, Paddy Power

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