Snooker: Welsh Open

[RussP]

Off we go again:nana Tomorrow sees the start of 4 days of qualifiers, with the main event beginning next Monday for 7 days. So, 11 days of betting opportunity with a 2 day break over this weekend. Yet another new format for this with the qualifiers, last 32 & last 16 a best of 7 match with no interval, quarters being best of 9, first to 6 in the semi and a 17 frame shootout in the final. Shorter format seeing more shocks? Maybe but it didn't really happen that way in the best of 5 World Open so let's see what happens.

[RussP]

Re: Snooker: Welsh Open In a round full of unfamilar names to many, I'm taking 3 bets tomorrow. T.Thirapongpaiboon to beat D.Morris, 3pts @ 4/5 Paddy Power Best name on the circuit, is that reason enough? Almost, but I'll try to give a little more. First season on the tour and he's climbing the ranking pretty fast, and has some really decent form to his name. Made it through 3 Shanghai qualifying rounds before falling to Mark Davis, 2 World Open qualifiers before Judd Trump halted his progress, fell at the first hurdle in the longer format UK before making the venue at the recent German Masters, losing to Graeme Dott after beating the higher ranked Pat Wallace, Alfie Burden and Barry Hawkins along the way, losing only 3 frames. Momentum is certainly with the Thai Torpedo, whilst the complete opposite can be said of his opponent David Morris. His form this season has been pretty shocking, dropping from an opening ranking of 59 to his current 72. Lost in the opening qualifying round of both the UK & German Masters, and the pressure will be on him here whilst the young lad from Thailand will play his usual attacking game and put the Irish lad under the cosh early doors. A.Wicheard to beat M.White, 3pts @ 6/4 Paddy Power Adam Wicheard was slow to settle on the circuit this year but now he has, he's going pretty well for his lowly ranking. After losing 12 of his first 16 games, he was easy to back against but starting with the EPTC5, his form has turned round, winning 5 of his last 9 games. Amongst them were wins over Judd Trump 4-2 in a EPTC event and 5-2 over Fergal O'Brien in the German qualifiers, whilst his defeats have been 2 last frame deciders against Michie and, all you eat buffet buster, Stephen Lee, and 2 less convincing efforts against the much higher ranked Whirlwind & the Sheriff. He takes on a 19yo Welshman who may feel the pressure trying to qualify for his native event, and who has it to prove. Lost to Xiao Guodong in the opening qualifier here last year, 5-2. Is very hit & miss, I think he feels the pressure of being touted as the successor to Mark Williams as the pride of Welsh snooker. Definitely depends on whether he brings his A game but 1/2 is no price for such inconsistency so I'll gladly take him on at the price. S.Bedford to beat J.Wattana, 3pts @ 11/8 Sportingbet The Thaiphoon that is James Wattana is probably the best known name in the round but by no means is he a shoo-in. Looking back over his form for the last 12 months, what interests me is his liking for a longer match, despite his quick style of play, suggesting that he may struggle in this best of 7 shootout. In his matches over that period in a best of 17 format, he's won 6, losing just 2 in the World & UK qualifiers (those against Gould & Campbell). In a best of 7 or shorter format, encompassing the World Open and PTC events, he's played 13, winning just 5 against Hamilton, Swail & Gilbert as well as 2 unknowns. His 8 defeats feature 3 names of a similar or worse standard to his opponent in Xiao Guodong, Michie & Michael White. His opponent, Simon Bedford, has some decent form to his form and has won his opening 2 rounds of qualifying in the last 3 ranking events, with his defeats coming against Matthew Stevens, Joe Swail & Marcus Campbell. A repeat of those efforts give him a massive chance here and, whilst Wattana is still to be feared, I strongly feel the value lies with Englishman here.