The Snookerbacker Blog

All will be revealed in the morning.

This week seems to have flown by. We are now approaching the weekend with just the small matter of sorting each of the quarters out tomorrow to see who will be contesting the semi-finals on Saturday.

Before I go on I must just let everyone know that the secret that I have been bursting to tell everyone on Twitter but have been sworn to secrecy will be revealed tomorrow, so tune in to the blog for a baize world exclusive. I think I got to know about it because someone took pity on me after the hacking incident last Saturday, but you won’t get this particular story anywhere else. I can promise you that.

So to summarise the last 16 today, from a betting point of view it went ok, we had a faller in the outright selections this morning as Peter Ebdon produced some impressive stuff to continue the hold he seems to have over Robbo in China. But for anyone that believes in history repeating itself, Robbo now goes into the World Championship in almost an identical situation to last year. He has won one ranking event this season, this being the World Open which replaced the Grand Prix that he won going into last year. His final result going into Sheffield last year was a 5-1 defeat in the China Open to Ebdon, the same score as today. Spooky Dooky or Hocus Pocus?

In the other early matches Shaun Murphy finally granted my wish to rid the world of wildcards, but only just, as he edged the impressive Li Hang out in a decider. On the other tables, Juddly continued his good late season form to beat the tricky Dark Mavis who can now have a couple of months off and the man the Chinese have adopted as their very own ‘Fat Goal Machine’ Stephen Lee justified support in beating Ryan Day.

Then came the hyped up ‘match of the day’ between Ding and Hendry which in truth was quite scrappy and once Ding took a foothold in the game he didn’t really struggle. Hendry again showing the frailties that are beginning to become increasingly evident in his game on a regular basis. John Higgins had ‘that look’ again, you know, the one he had in the UK and the Welsh Open in dispensing with Ricky Walden in clinical fashion. Can anyone stop him on his quest to pack his house with trophies? At this rate Denise will need a new duster.

On the two outside tables, Ali proved that his form is on the up and accounted for Marcus Campbell, who I am sure will take positives out of his form recently going to Sheffield, which he will need to seeing as he’s up against Smurf. Mark Selby then either won 5-1 or is still waiting for Mill Hopkins to break off in frame 5, depending on who you believe. But someone is happy, my guess being someone who was at the venue as no sooner had it become apparent that the scoreboard had frozen as the lumps were placed on the Jester at Betfair. We always seem to get a match like that in China, strange that…

So to tomorrow and a cracking line-up with three mouth-watering ties and Peter Ebdon’s match:

First Session:

Judd Trump v Peter Ebdon (H2H 1-2)

Dave Hendon used a phrase on Eurosport that I have often used about Ebdon and said he ‘Did a Job’ on Robbo earlier today. For European readers and those unfamiliar with working class dialect who are busy eating their prawn sandwiches this means that Ebdon just came out, played the player, used his head and won the mental game. The mental part of the sport cannot ever be underestimated and the fact that this is the strongest part of Peter’s armoury is the reason he is still up there at the top of the sport, despite sometimes playing the strangest shots. But to give him his due, he played very well earlier and it was a good win for him. The ‘Most Fanciable Player of the Tournament’ (you’ve just got to love the Chinese) Juddly started like a rocket against Mavis with two 69′s (oo-er missus), and then slowed down a bit by the look of the scoring. It’s hard to know if he became a tactical genius overnight or whether, like his last match, he needed a few chances to put frames to bed. This match is like chalk playing cheese, like black playing white, like pea playing pod (ok that last one doesn’t work). These two are polar opposites and the only thing you can predict is that if either of them can make it ‘their type of game’ they will win. Expect Ebdon to put colours safe, play deep screws back to baulk and frustrate Judd. Judd still for me goes for too many pots that he can’t get at this level, but tomorrow that might be his best bet. The only way he can win this match is to outpot Ebdon, which is why I fancy Ebbo.

Recommended Bet: 2 points win Peter Ebdon at 10/11 with Skybet

Great Pals

Shaun Murphy v John Higgins (H2H 4-7)

What a match in store here. Murphy coming back to his best and seemingly a bit more stable around the table than he has been for a while and John looking like he would rip the heart out of a lion to win. John’s interview after his first match was telling, he hinted that before his ban he was not that bothered if he won or lost, but that now he was going to give 100% to every match and indeed every shot. If he is true to his word on that then there are only a few players that can beat him, an on-form O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Shaun are the three that spring to mind. This is one to enjoy, Murphy is a half decent price at Betfred for anyone that fancies him and 6/4 is not to be sniffed at in a player that is coming back to his best and who, at the end of the day is a great match player. But John for me is the man to beat in this event and I have to stick with him, though I’ll stop short of recommending it. This could be a real classic however and there is one bet that I think we have a duty to blog charge on in a big way. My advice is to hurry. I’ve had what I could on it.

Recommended Bet: 5 points win over 0.5 centuries (4/7 Blue Square and 888 Sport).

Second Session:

Ali Carter v Mark Selby (H2H 4-5)

Another great match in prospect here though you would be forgiven for thinking that Ali wasn’t there this year as we have seen nothing of him. But that seems to be how he likes it, he is the ultimate ‘shy away from the limelight’ player who then just turns up in the later stages without anyone noticing. His Captain’s Log on here is about as ‘famous’ as he wants to get, quite refreshing in this day and age.  He seems to be scoring well and reports from the camp are good. It’s difficult to know anything about the Selby v Hopkins match as I write as it is still showing 3-1 on the scoreboard, but from the first four frames it looked to be quite a close affair and not a runaway for the Jester. Though for all we know he might have hit two 147′s to clinch it. These two are both playing with one eye on Sheffield and I’ll say again that I believe Ali will go there very fresh after an in and out season regardless of the result in this match. He is peaking at the right time and I think he might just upset the odds here. If I was backing correct scores I’d say 5-4 either way, but I just have a slight leaning towards the Captain. He has won the last two meetings between the pair including the Shanghai semi-final in September so I’m going to back him for the hat trick.

Recommended Bet: 2 points win Ali Carter at 5/4 with Betfred

Stephen Lee v Ding Junhui (H2H 1-4)

The Rolls Royce is in full flow this week and again I expect this to be a cracker. I think we will be spoilt for snooker tomorrow and I can’t wait (now watch Ebdon’s match be the thriller). It’s Ding’s birthday tomorrow of course and much will be made of that I’m sure. But one person you don’t want at your party sharing the cake is Lee. He was absolutely awesome against MJW of course and though his scoring wasn’t quite as high against Day you just feel he is oozing confidence at the moment. He really is a joy to watch. I think the 6/4 at Betfred is a decent price on him if I am honest, particularly if you also fancy Smurf as that is a decent double at the odds but I can’t dessert (in the abandon, not the cake way) Ding as I have him in the outrights. But what I will say is that I am not as confident as I was that he will get through, but if he loses, at least he’ll have his cake to go back to, unless of course Stevie eats it while he isn’t looking.

Recommended Bet: 1 point on Stephen Lee (+1.5 frames) at 10/11 with Stan James

For Multiple backers I’d go with a 1 point double on Ebdon and Carter which pays near 10/3 at Betfred

AS EVER, THE BEST OF LUCK IF YOU ARE HAVING A BET. NOW JUST ONE MORE SLEEP TILL MY EXCLUSIVE.

Please make me some new images. How naff is this? I'm a professional.

Good Morning Everyone, another day, another eight matches. If you feel low today and need cheering up it might be an idea to click here for a special snooker-based episode of The Fast Show.

Feel free to have a natter below.

Stephen Lee 5-2 Ryan Day
Li Hang 4-5 Shaun Murphy
Mark Davis 2-5 Judd Trump
Peter Ebdon 5-1 Neil Robertson

Stephen Hendry 2-5 Ding Junhui
Ali Carter 5-3 Marcus Campbell
Mill Hopkins 1-5 Mark Selby
John Higgins 5-2 Ricky Walden