Welsh Open 11-17 Feb

[kevshat]

The next ranking tournament is upon us as the Welsh Open begins in Newport on Monday. This tournament has had a few quirky changes made to it down the years but in terms of matches it is the same format as last year. Best of 7 up to the QFs which are best of 9 then best of 11 for the semis and a best of 17 final. BBC Wales (Sky971) and Eurosport have the coverage this week. Draw can be found here: http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/f8/ba/0,,13165~178936,00.pdf

[kevshat]

Re: Welsh Open 11-17 Feb Tournament preview: 2pts ew J.Higgins to win Welsh Open 8/1 BetVictor (1/2 1-2) 1pt ew A.Higginson to win Welsh Open 80/1 Coral (1/2 1-2) John Higgins has been in good touch this season having won the Shanghai Masters and finished with a win and a second place in the PTC tournaments and he should head to Newport in good spirits having won this tournament in two of the last three years. The fact he has gone so well in the PTC’s this season has to be a positive with the first two rounds over the PTC distance this week and while he’s in the same quarter of the draw as Neil Robertson he has avoided the half of the draw which has Judd Trump and Mark Selby which has to be a positive. Higgins seems to enjoy life in the Newport Centre and he’s my main bet this week. Andrew Higginson is another player who will have positive memories of the Newport Centre. He was a runner up here to Neil Robertson a few years ago and he might just be coming into form at the right time for another strong tilt at the title this week. In the last couple of months he’s qualified for the German Masters, World Open, China Open and this tournament and in the German Masters he walloped the in form Stuart Bingham before running into an in form Neil Robertson. Higginson can beat anyone on his day and with two semi finals in the PTC’s this season we know the best of 7 length doesn’t worry him and he could go well at a bumper price. Full preview here: http://www.punterslounge.com/welsh-open-betting-john-higgins-can-revive-good-memories-at-the-newport-centre