[Group A Predictions (Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay)]

16 minutes ago, waynecoyne said:

who is the 11/4 with for 0 points?

It's with Paddy Power on their team specials.

[Group A Predictions (Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay)]

Having watched Saudi Arabia last night, I like the look of their total group points of 0 @ 10/11 quite appealing. I cannot see them picking up points against Egypt or Uruguay.

I will also take Russia's total group points of 3 @ 11/2.

And Panama's total group points of 0 @ 11/4.

 

 

[World Snooker Championship]

Second round starts today and there are some mouth watering match ups.

Mark Allen v Joe Perry

The head says Mark Allen, but how can I back against Perry having taken out Selby with ease and playing an opponent that has a very average record at the crucible. Added to that, Perry beat Allen in their most recent encounter at the UK Championship. I'll take Perry @ 6/4.

Kyren Wilson v Jamie Jones

I make Wilson strong favourite here against a player in Jones that has done precious little this season. Granted, Jones took Smurf out in the 1st round, but he did rather contrive to lose that match. Wilson has been consistently reaching the latter stages of all of the majors this season. I'll be having a play at the handicap and Wilson -3.5 @ 11/10 looks tempting.

John Higgins v Jack Lisowski

Difficult one to call this one. Higgins loves the crucible, but Lisowski has played well in their recent meetings. I think it could be close and Lisowski +3.5 @ EVE will hook me in.

Barry Hawkins v Lyu Haotian

Will leave this one well alone. The Hawk has to improve from his dreadful performance in the 1st round and he will do. Lyu wasn't great against Fu. The bookies say Hawkins to win comfortably and I'll go along with that.

Mark Williams v Robert Milkins

Again, little value here either. MJW should steamroll an inconsistent Milkins, but you never know which Milkins will turn up. 

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter

Carter is for me, the weakest player left in the draw. I doubt they'll play many frames of their 3rd session if at all. Ronnie's B game has won him 5 tournaments already this season and he'll be far too much for Ali. I'll take Ronnie -5.5 even at the daft price of 10/11.

 

Ding was the standout of the 1st round performers for me and I've taken him @ 9/1 to win the whole thing.

 

 

 

[World Snooker Championship]

I have a feeling Bingham will turn this around. He's had a result only trailing by one and I don't believe Lisowski can have as good a session as that again against such a class opponent as Bingham.

Experience will tell. Bingham 10:8

[World Snooker Championship]

Lu Haotian has a winning record against Marco Fu and added to that, Fu has barely picked up a cue this year due to problematic eye surgery. Lu is great value at 7/4.

K. Wilson won't have any problems dealing with Matthew Stevens. Wilson dumped Stevens out 2 years ago, and he is a much improved player since then also. At 2/5, there is some value there.

Bingham is another I fancy to win, and at 1/2, that'll do nicely to make up a treble.

 

I'm finding it more difficult each year to find banker accumulators, even in the World Snooker 1st round. Barry Hearn has a lot to answer for with the snooker punters as he has somewhat brought the field together with his million and one tournaments a season.

 

[World Snooker Championship ( Qualifiers)]

Selby is the man in form following his win in China.

He's had a poor season by his standards, but some of that can be put down to the even shorter format matches with an increase in the number of tournaments. Many rounds are now best of 7 and he's never been the best in those shorter games.

At 7/2 (PP), It doesn't represent great value, but the only player I can see beating him is O'Sullivan and I just can't see Ronnie doing it again at the Crucible.

 

Kyren Wilson at 33/1 is the best value among the rest. He won't win it, but I shall be backing him to make the last four depending on his side of the draw. He is the 12th favourite, but on current form, is a top 6 player.

[World Snooker Championship 2017]

3 hours ago, Sir Puntalot said:

I guess it's time to be getting back into the swing of snooker betting, now the development of PL is coming to an end.

I played this game for 15 years non stop and achieved a high standard hitting around 40 tons, but there's a lot of players I'm not up to date on, so I'll try and watch those and catch up.

As for Trump - I don't think he's got the game to win the title unless he gets a big lead, he just loses it under pressure in my opinion. Selby is far and away the best player around these days and to see him not as favourite, is completely bonkers as he's solid as a rock, even Ronnie thinks he's the best.

Ronnie is always the wildcard, and at the World Championships, he usually turns up with his game in good nick, but he would need to be in top gear and to get a good lead against Selby if they met further down the line.

Hawkins is worth a mention and his game is very much suited to the Uk and World Championships, and he was always solid even when we were both in the amateurs. Another dark horse for the title, don't rule him out.

Players I've played over the years for the record:

Barry Hawkins, Stuart Bingham, Ali Carter, Peter Ebdon, Fergal O'Brien, Rory Mcleod. 

Bingham was the most surprising to do as well as what he has. I remember (blowing my trumpet here) tonking him 3-0 in an amateur tournament, but he really worked hard at his game and I was chuffed for him, but I don't see him winning it again - just call it a feeling.

Can't say I've had forty tons, or even one for that matter. I came close a few times in my days of being beaten out of sight by Nigel Bond time and again. 95 as I recall was my top break though I'm going back around 20 plus years there.

I agree with your thoughts over Selby being the top dog here in Sheffield (or anywhere for that matter), but he has a tough draw here and I think the bookies have factored that in when odds compiling.

[World Snooker Championship 2017]

My favourite tournament of the year from a betting perspective.

Here is the draw in full:

Mark Selby v Fergal O'Brien: Should be a comprehensive win for Selby. These two have met 4 times previously with Selby winning all four at an aggregate of 17 frames to two. Value bet = O'Brien to win under 5.5 frames @ 4/5 (PP).

Anthony McGill v Stephen Maguire: Maguire was brilliant in qualifiers and I would make him the narrow favourite here. They met at the same stage in the same tournament two years and McGill prevailed 10-9 on that date. Expect a similar frame count here. Total frames over 15.5 @ EVENS (PP)

Kyren Wilson v David Grace: Kyren has an awful record against Grace (losing all 3 previous meetings), but he is the form player so I wouldn't advise against him. Having said that, for Grace to be 3/1 against a player that he has beaten 3/3, looks tempting.

John Higgins v Martin Gould: Higgins has the edge here but it will likely be closer than the bookies suggest. Higgins won the last meeting 9-8. Would favour the over 16.5 frames at EVENS (PP)

Barry Hawkins v Tom Ford: The Worlds always brings the best out of Hawkins and he should win this comfortably. Ford looked very good in qualifying however so I would leave this match well alone.

Marco Fu v Luca Brecel: Fu prefers the longer matches and has won all four of their previous meetings. Fu -3.5 frames at 11/10 is a price I shall gladly accept (PP)

Shaun Murphy v Yan Bingtao: A slightly out of sorts Murphy takes on the youngest qualifier. Bingtao has won 2 out of the 3 previous meetings so form suggests the value is with the outsider. Bingtao to cause an upset here is certainly a possibility though hedging your bets and taking Bingtao +2.5 @ 11/10 (PP)

Judd Trump v Rory McLeod: I really can't see McLeod getting more than 3 frames here so am happy to take Trump -6.5 @ 7/4 (PP)

Stuart Bingham v Peter Ebdon: Ebdon was very lucky to qualify and Michael Holt should have put him away comfortably. Having said that, Ebdon has won their 2 previous meetings. Shall leave this one well alone.

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Gary Wilson: Which Ronnie will we see? I have learned not to back this man as he can beat himself.

Ryan Day v Xiao Guodong: Goudong is one of the better qualifiers against Day who is one of the weaker players of the top 16. Experience should win the day here and a winning record 2-0 suggests that Day -2.5 is value @  6/5 (PP)

Ding Junhui v Zhou Yuelong: Yuelong is a star of the future and if he brings his A game, this could be a good contest. I can't see that happening and Ding's experience and previous winning record of 2 wins (11 frames to 1) suggests this won't be close. Ding -4.5 @ 11/10 (PP)

Neil Robertson v Noppon Saengkham: Robertson has a winning record but did lose their last meeting 5-3. Robertson hasn't been in the best of nick recently so the value here is with the outsider. Saengkham +3.5 @ 6/4 (PP)

Mark Allen v Jimmy Robertson: Both players whose form is very up and down. Robertson is unreliable biut does have the game to cause Allen problems. Will leave this one alone.

Liang Wenbo v Stuart Carrington: Carrington had a great win over M.J.Williams in the qualifiers and can do the same to Wenbo. Too difficult to predict this one.

Ali Carter v Graeme Dott: Ali Carter comfortably won their last meeting 4-1 though Dott has a winning record including a QF win over Carter at the crucible. This one is a near certainty to be close. Over 16.5 frames @ 4/5 (PP)

 

My bet of the tournament is Trump to win his quarter @ 10/11 (PP). He has much the easiest passage through to the last 4 and to get there faces the winner of McGill and Maguire, and then either Hawkins or Ali Cater, qualifiers aside.

For that reason, I will take Trump @ 4/1 to win the tournament (PP). Should Trump reach the last 4 and I think that will be a breeze, he faces Bingham, Wilson, Allen or Higgins for a place in the final. To say it is the easier half of the draw is something of an understatement.

And finally, I like the look of a Selby/Trump final at 13/2 with PP. Selby has this great record at the crucible and is the form player coming into the tournament having won in China. I do think he will be pushed though which is why I think Trump will pip him in the final.

 

 

 

[World Darts Championship]

Semi Final time in the darts. One I like with PP is:

Gary Anderson @ 5/6  Most 180s & Win Match  Gary Anderson v Peter Wright

If Anderson wins the match, then he will hit more 180's because that's what he does. He always hit lots of maximums against an opponent that whilst maybe better at hitting his doubles, doesn't tend to outscore his opponents on the 180's.

 

Nothing on the Barney game because RVB is just simply unpredictable though a win for MVG is in little doubt.

[World Darts Championship]

Quarter Final time in the darts. Three I like all with PP are:

 

Under @ 5/6 Total 180's(16.5) Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

Taylor has hit 12 180's so far in his 3 matches. Barney has hit 13. They average 8.5 total 180's between them so unders seems a good call.

 

Any Checkout of 160 or greater @ 10/3
Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney

This would have come up in 50% of their matches so far and it's also a longer format.

 

No @ evens  Both to Throw 7 or more 180s  James Wade v Peter Wright

Wright has managed only 6 180's in his 3 games compared to Wade's 12. Between them, they have thrown 5, 7, and 6 in the tournament so far.

 

 

[Festive Fixtures > Dec 26th - 28th]

30/12 - Friday night football

Can't quite understand why Reading are 15/8 (Paddy Power) to beat Fulham 6/4 at home.

One of the best home records in the division (W8, D3, L1).

Both are form sides but unsure as to why Reading are the underdogs here.

 

 

[Premier League > Feb 2nd & 3rd]

Of the 12 predictions in this thread, 8 of them would have been losing bets.

Not a great ratio for a tipsters site.

Matches in the Premiership are damn near impossible to predict this season and my advice would be to back the opposite of what your gut is telling you.

[Welsh Open Feb 16~22]

Just browsing through the draw. Top half of the draw: Murphy, Ronnie, Robertson, Trump, Allen Bottom Half: Selby, Ding That top half is ridiculous compared to the bottom half. Ding is out of form so the draw suggests an e/w bet on Selby @ 7/1. He is the form player so 3.5/1 for a final berth seems fair value.

[Ashes - In play/Discussion thread]

Re: Ashes - In play/Discussion thread

New ball just taken' date=' I would have give Root a couple against those foot marks.....anyhow, you just feel, if either of these two go before Lunch, it wont last long after....Heres hoping:hope[/quote'] The Aussies still have Siddle and Starc who can both bat a bit. Australia have this in the bag. Just stay in, don't take risks and it's theirs for the taking.

[World Championship 20 Apr - 6 May]

Re: World Championship 20 Apr - 6 May

Right, this tournament has opened up unbelievably, so it's time to exploit that and start making some money. I, presumably like a lot of you as well, spend a lot of time hunting around looking for value bets, which are normally difficult to find. So, a tournament like this which has opened up and provides easy value right in front of our eyes can't be ignored and we have to lump on to take what should hopefully be fairly easy cash. Let's start with the bottom half of the draw. Ding is a class (or two) above the other 5 players left in the bottom half, so over these long matches that will show and he should reach the final. So, either a bet on just that, or perhaps an each way on him to win the tournament, or just 3 singles on his last 16, quarter final and semi, however you think is the most profitable way to play it. I think this may be his year, he will surely be the world champion at least once, he's flown under the radar a bit this year and with the much easier half of the draw would come into the final far fresher than any opponent, so I think the each way bet on him for the title is the way to go. Continuing with the bottom half, along similar lines, Ricky Walden should reach the semis before losing to Ding. Back this if you can find it, but it may have to be in the form of consecutive single bets. Having won two(?) ranking events (one of which was back in the day when ranking events were few and far between and meant a lot more) Walden is again a class above Robert Milkins and Michael White. The top half is a bit more difficult to call. It should be a Ronnie - Trump semi, but Ali Carter may not be finished in this tournament just yet. Trump to beat Murphy and Ronnie/Carter to win their quarter final are the bets here but not as certain as the bets in the bottom half. In summary, top bets are Ding to reach the final and Walden to reach the semis and Trump to beat Murphy is a reasonable bet as well.

If this tournament has shown anything then it is to avoid "lumping on". Mark Allen is a class above Mark King but got beaten. Maguire is several classes above Poomjaeng but got beaten. Robertson is a class above Milkins but got beaten. Higgins is a class above Davis but got beaten. Selby is a class above Hawkins but got beaten. These results suggest the value bets will be to back the outsiders as past results suggest the upsets are certainly far from over.

[World Championship 20 Apr - 6 May]

Re: World Championship 20 Apr - 6 May Just looking through the outright betting. Can Jack Lisowski continue with his good form? I shall take the 50/1 on offer for the outright with 25/1 with most companies as an each way bet to reach the final. On his game, he has proved he can beat the best and he's the one player that I can see challenging at the very top of the game in the next year or so. Why not at this years World Championship. Even Judd Trump couldn't live with him at the recent China Open before finally losing in a final frame decider to Shaun Murphy. He's been handed a very tough bracket though and will have to potentially beat Hawkins, Selby and either Ding or Allen to secure a semi final spot.

[Manchester United v Real Madrid > Tue 5th March]

Re: Manchester United v Real Madrid > Tue 5th March

It does for me too...but I cannot find anything like that price anywhere. Where are you getting that?

The price is still up on Paddy Power.

[Manchester United v Real Madrid > Tue 5th March]

Re: Manchester United v Real Madrid > Tue 5th March 1-1 looks a likely outcome here at 6/1 so little value there but the 35/1 on offer for either side to qualify in a penalty shoot out stands out for me.

[UK Championship - 1-9 Dec]

Re: UK Championship - 1-9 Dec I'm taking a punt in naming the finalists. A repeat of last years final of J.Trump v M.Allen is 20/1 Paddy Power Both players are in good form. Judd Trump is most peoples favourite to win and in Mark Allen, you have the self confessed most likely challenger to his number one spot in the world rankings in the future.

[International Championship 28 Oct - 4 Nov]

Re: International Championship 28 Oct - 4 Nov

Wednesday early session TV previews: 4pts N.Robertson (-2.5 frames) to beat M.Stevens Evs Boylesports The way he played in the first round I think Neil Robertson has to be taken to win this and win it quite well. Stevens was missing some stupidly easy balls by the end of his match with Zhao Xintong and there has to be a hangover from that, he was so bad. Robertson will have seen the draw opening up and will realise the opportunity he has here and I think he’ll win this more comfortably than perhaps I normally would. Full preview here: http://www.punterslounge.com/robertson-vs-stevens-betting-neil-robertson-can-cruise-into-the-quarter-finals-in-chengdu 4pts M.Fu vs M.Davis - Over 9.5 frames 11/10 Paddy Power These two have met twice in recent years and both times Mark Davis has won in a deciding frame and I see no reason at all why this won’t go the same way. Both men needed at least 10 frames to win their opening match this week and both look well matched to me too. I expect a close match throughout here and one which will end no worse than 6-4 either way. Full preview here: http://www.punterslounge.com/fu-vs-davis-betting-two-surprise-first-round-winners-can-play-out-a-tight-second-round-match-in-china

Great tipping there Kev.

[Australian Goldfields Open - 9-15 July]

Re: Australian Goldfields Open - 9-15 July

This has been an absolutely rotten tournament for me so far. Hopefully I can make amends for that on Thursday. Going with these four.

And it gets worse. What used to be my most reliable sport from a betting angle is becoming a lottery. The PTC's may be good for the game but they're not good for the bank balance as they journeymen pros are stepping up.

[Holland v Germany - June 13]

Re: Holland v Germany - June 13 Holland don't need to win this game should Portugal take the points against Denmark. That outcome would need them needing to beat an average Portugal side in their final game (assuming the Germans beat the Danes). I can see it being a fairly dour 0-0 draw and at 5.00 for the HT/FT, I will take that.

[World Championship Snooker Competition - Win a signed cue!]

Re: World Championship Snooker Competition - Win a signed cue! J Trump D Junhui R O'Sullivan 18-11

[World Championship - April 21st - May 7th]

Re: World Championship - April 21st - May 7th My first post on here after being recommended to the site by a friend. I like to throw a little money around on the snooker and have been well rewarded over the years. Here are my bets so far: Higgins @ 2/9 (very dodgy as out of form) Allen @ 1/10 Williams @ 1/7 Trump @ 1/6 Robertson @ 1/6 Bet £1000. Poss Ret £2091 Ding @ 1/4 Selby @ 1/4 Lee @ 1/4 Gould @ 2/5 Bet £200. Poss Ret £546 Allen @ 1/6 Robertson @ 1/7 Trump @ 1/7 Ding @ 2/9 Bet £1000. Poss Ret £1862 Allen @ 1/6 Robertson @ 1/7 Trump @ 1/7 Selby @ 2/9 Bet £800. Poss Ret £1490 So total stake on 1st round is £3000 with a poss return of £5900 Up to you if you follow my tips but bear in mind that snooker is much more difficult to predict nowadays as the number of tournaments has increased from 6 to about 30 per season and there are no longer any easy games for the top 16 players. I would be pretty surprised if I made a lot of cash on this years tournament.