Shanghai Masters 2007

[betking]

With the qualifiers now out of the way, the competition proper starts tomorrow.

Topping the outright market we have -

Ding Junhui @ 6
John Higgins @ 7
Shaun Murphy @ 11
Neil Robertson @ 12
Stephen Hendry @ 15
Mark J Williams @ 17
Mark Selby @ 19
Peter Ebdon @ 19
Stephen Maguire @19
Graeme Dott @ 21
Ken Doherty @ 23
Allister Carter @ 26
Jamie Cope @ 26
The rest 34 or bigger

I've worked through the draw and my semi final predicitons are Higgins vs O'Brien and Murphy vs Ding.

O'Brien is currently 100/1 and I think will do well here. He'll be in for a tough match if he does meet Higgins in the semis, but I feel Higgins will edge it. I'll still be having a small interest in O'Brien at 100/1 though. I fancy Ding to get to the final as well, and go on to win.

Yes I've been boring and gone for the 2 market leaders, and the 3 market leaders to reach the semis, but I dont see too many major shocks here.

So my bets are

Junhui @ 6
Higgins @ 7
Murphy @ 11 smaller, Each Way
O'Brien @ 101 smaller, Each Way

Now onto the 1st round matches -

Allister Carter vs Adrian Gunnell
Carter @ 1.4

Carter should run out the winner here, he impressed me a lot at times last season, I fancy him to make the QFs here too. Gunnell never really gives me any confidence to back him, I dont know why, thats just how I feel.

Fergal OBrien vs Steve Davis
O'Brien @ 1.73

I've already mentioned that I expect a good tournament from Fergal, and he should be able to get past an ageing Steve Davis here quite comfortably.

John Higgins vs Jamie Cope
Higgins @ 1.53

I've picked Higgins to make the final so of course I expect him to win his 1st round match, but I think it maybe closer than some people think. The reigning World Champion should make it through though, maybe 5-3

Peter Ebdon vs Dave Harold
Harold @ 3.2

Ebdon is a player who always seems to let me down in "smaller" tournaments, and I'll be oposing him tomorrow, albeit with small stakes only.
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Red Bull gives you wings.

Stoke and Hull better stock up on Red Bull then, as its the only way they'll get off the floor next season.....

[fairfranco]

bk would you say O'brien is good odds at 1.85 (Betfair) to beat Davies today then?

[brewster39]

Ali Carter looks quite tasty @ 26s I think
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[paul290603]

Fairfranco do you know any websites that give live updated scores - I have been on the Shanghai Masters website and can't find any live scores.

Thanks
Paul290603

[fairfranco]

www.worldsnooker.com

there's a live scores option there that you can pick a game top see lives scores on.

actual link (to davis game as it's what i have open) http://www.worldsnooker.com/livescoring/viewer.asp?tournamentcode=0708SM

[paul290603]

Thanks again Fairfranco!!!!!!

[fairfranco]

O Brien follows after looking pretty decent while i was watching.

I traded the match and would have won more on O'Brien but Davis winning will do I suppose!

[betking]

Can't believe O'Brien lost. Was leading 4-2 then proceeded to collapse Very disappointing. Carter lost too but Higgins winning and Harold beating Ebdon helped reduce my losses.

On to tomorrow's matches...

Stephen Hendry vs Nigel Bond
Hendry @ 1.33

Should be a comfortable win for Hendry, I dont him being too challenged by Bond.

Neil Robertson vs Matthew Stevens
Stevens @ 2.5 smaller stake

I'll be having a small interest on Stevens as in my view hes a value price here. I would've priced the market much closer and I expect a close match, so on a coin flip I'll take 2.5

Shaun Murphy vs Ian McCulloch
Murphy @ 1.47
The former World Champion and losing finalist at the Crucible this year should have too much for McCulloch. Could be a tight affair, but I expect Murphy to reach the semis, so of course I fancy him to win here.
_________________
Red Bull gives you wings.

Stoke and Hull better stock up on Red Bull then, as its the only way they'll get off the floor next season.....

[man o bong]

i cant find out how Mark Williams got on today

Does anyone know?
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[Rads]

Hendry plays Stephen Lee next

Here is the draw

http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2007-8/07-8-Professional/2007-Shanghai-draw.htm

[betking]

So 2 out of 3 for today. Stevens @ 2.5 and Hendry @ 1.33 obliged, but Murphy fell at the 1st hurdle.

So 2 from 4 yesterday, 2 from 3 today, hopefully tomorrow will see 100% winners with 2 from 2 Both are short prices, but I fully expect them to come in.

Stephen Hendry vs Stephen Lee
Hendry @ 1.67

Fancy Hendry to take this. Looked very good today, and seems up for this tournament. Lee edged Marco Fu in the 1st round, but I feel he'll run out of steam here.


Ding Junhui vs Graeme Dott
Junhui @ 1.4

If Ding is on song here then he'll certainly win. I see him reaching the final but this will be a tough match for him, so it'll be interesting to see where his mind is in this one.
_________________
Red Bull gives you wings.

Stoke and Hull better stock up on Red Bull then, as its the only way they'll get off the floor next season.....

[betking]

0 from 2 today I mentioned it'd be interesting to see Ding's state of mind, and he really wasnt with it today at all. I thought about backing Stevens, and when he was 4-0 down I was glad I didnt - then he came back to win 5-4! Poor day overall.
_________________
Red Bull gives you wings.

Stoke and Hull better stock up on Red Bull then, as its the only way they'll get off the floor next season.....