Snooker: Malta Cup

[kevshat]

The 1st of 2 snooker tournaments in successive weeks begins tomorrow in the redesigned Malta Cup.

Ding, Junhui 6 7.5 6.4 6.5 6 7.5 5 6 6.5 5 6 5.5 6 7 5.5 7.5 7.5 6.5 5 6.8 6.8 6.8 Higgins, J 5.5 4.33 6.8 6 6.5 4.33 5.5 6 8 7 6 6 7 8 6.5 4.33 7.5 4.5 5.5 7.2 7.2 8.6 Maguire, S 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 6 9 9 8 9 10 9 9 8 9 7.5 9.6 9.6 6.2 Selby, M 10 8 10 9 8 8 9 12 9 9 9 10 9 10 11 8 9 11 10 11 11 9.4 Murphy, S 10 10 10.5 9 10 10 11 12 9 9 11 9 9 12 11 10 11 11 10 11.5 11.5 9.8 Doherty, K 17 17 16 15 15 17 15 15 17 17 17 17 15 15 17 17 13 15 15 17.5 17.5 19 Robertson, N 15 17 16 15 15 17 13 13 17 17 17 17 11 15 17 17 15 15 17 17.5 17 19 Fu, M 17 19 16.5 17 13 19 17 19 21 17 17 15 15 15 13 19 17 15 13 18 17.5 23 Day, R 19 21 20 21 19 21 21 17 21 17 17 21 15 17 13 21 17 17 21 22 22 25 Ebdon, P 17 23 16 21 17 23 17 17 17 15 21 17 17 17 13 23 15 15 13 17.5 18 20 Hendry, S 17 19 19 21 17 19 17 21 17 21 21 17 17 23 21 19 26 21 21 21 21 20 Carter, A 26 26 25 26 21 26 21 21 26 26 26 26 21 21 17 26 21 26 26 28 28 28 Lee, S 29 34 30 34 29 34 26 34 29 26 34 34 34 34 29 34 26 26 29 34 34 32 Williams, M 26 34 30 26 34 34 26 26 19 29 34 26 26 26 29 34 26 34 34 34 32 22 Dott, G 29 34 32 29 26 34 21 29 21 26 34 26 26 23 34 34 26 34 34 36 36 24 Perry, J 34 41 36 34 34 41 41 34 21 34 41 41 34 23 41 41 34 41 29 42 42 24 Dale, D 51 67 54 51 67 67 41 67 41 51 51 51 41 51 67 67 41 51 51 64 65 46 Swail, J 51 51 54 51 51 51 67 41 26 41 51 51 51 51 67 51 41 51 51 64 65 30 Drago, T 176 201 148 151 176 201 201 151 101 101 151 151 67 201 201 201 151 151 126 198 200 110 Alex Borg 251 251 220 251 201 151 151 151 251 301 101 301 251 251 251 295 300 - Place terms 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 4 1/5 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2

This tournament isn't a ranking event. It's the top 16 minus O'Sullivan and Davis and 6 wildcards. Two home wildcards in Tony Drago and Alex Borg and 4 non 16 wild cards in Marco Fu, Joe Perry, Dominic Dale and Joe Swail. Instead of it being a straight knockout the 20 men have been split into 4 groups of 5 with everyone playing each other once over the best of 6 frames. The group winners then go into the semi finals which are best of 11 before a best of 17 frame final. The groups are as follows: Group 1 John Higgins Joe Perry Ali Carter Ryan Day Alex Borg Group 2 Ken Doherty Neil Robertson Joe Swail Stephen Lee Marco Fu Group 3 Shaun Murphy Stephen Hendry Stephen Maguire Mark Selby Tony Drago Group 4 Graeme Dott Peter Ebdon Mark Williams Ding Junhui Dominic Dale I'll stick the group odds up in the next post then my outrights after that.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Group 1

	Higgins, J	2.3	2.25	2.4	2	2.37	2.5	2.6	2.62	2	2.75	2.37	2.38
	Day, R	3.8	3.75	4	4.33	3.75	3.5	3.5	3.25	4	3.5	3.75	3.75
	Carter, A	4.5	3.75	4.33	4	4	4.33	4.5	3.5	4.33	3.5	4.5	4
	Perry, J	5.5	6	5.5	6	5.5	5	5.25	6	6	5.5	5	5.5
	Borg, Alex	51	41	26	67	67	34	34	34	67	34	51	50

Group 2

	Doherty, K	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.5	3.75	3.75	3.6	3.75	4	4	4	3.75
	Robertson, N	3.6	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.75	3.5	3.5	3.75	3.5	3.75	4	3.75
	Fu, M	4	3.75	4.33	3.5	4	3.75	3.75	3.25	4.33	4	3.25	4
	Lee, S	5.5	5	5	5.5	5	6	6.5	5.5	5	5	5	5
	Swail, J	7	7	7.5	8	6.5	6.5	7.5	8	5.5	5.5	9	6.4

Group 3

	Maguire, S	3.25	3.2	3.2	3	3.2	3	3.25	3	3.25	3	3	3.2
	Selby, M	3.6	3.2	3.6	3	3.5	3.5	3.6	3.5	3	3.5	3.5	3.5
	Murphy, S	3.6	3.5	3.6	3.25	3.25	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.75	3.25	3.3
	Hendry, S	4.5	4.5	5	6	5	5	5	5	5	4.33	6	5
	Drago, T	26	34	21	41	34	21	23	26	34	34	17	34

Group 4

	Ding, Junhui	2.37	2.2	2.5	2	2.25	2.25	2.38	2.37	2.2	2.75	2.37	2.32
	Ebdon, P	4.33	4.33	4.33	4.33	4	3.75	3.75	3.75	4.5	4	3.5	4
	Williams, M	5	5.5	5	6	5.5	6	6	5.5	5.5	5	6	5.5
	Dott, G	6	5.5	5	6	6	6	5.5	6	5.5	5	6	6
	Dale, D	9	8.5	11	10	11	10	13	9	9	7	9	11

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup 4 outrights for me. 3pts ew D.Junhui to win Malta Cup 13/2 Stan James Looking at the draw and it's hard to see why Ding Junhui can't win Group 4. The 3 main dangers on paper are all massively out of form and given that Ding has plenty of experience of these 6 frame matches from his Premier League exploits he would be many people's favourite to come through that. Mark Williams showed signs of a return to form in the UK Championships but then went and played crap at the Masters and was on about retiring. Dott and Ebdon have no form to talk about at all this season. Dominic Dale won in China though and could be a danger. Obviously if he makes the semis, Ding would have a real tricky semi final against the winner of the group of death but that could be his hardest obstacle with the top half looking much the weaker half of the draw. Considering he's favourite for the event I was surprised to see 13/2 available on Ding especially given his group but that's good value in a select field without O'Sullivan. 1pt ew R.Day to win Malta Cup 20/1 Stan James Ryan Day has shown glimpses that there's some form inside him in the last 2 events but he's then failed to take chances that have come his way to progress in those events. But we must remember that he made the final in Shanghai earlier this season so he definitely has the potential. He'll like his draw too. John Higgins is obviously a class act but he's not been in great form this season and Ali Carter and Joe Perry are both solid players but certainly not impossible to beat. This group could be one of those where everyone beats everyone but if Day can come through it, with the 2nd group looking weak a nice semi final may well await and this could be the week which Ryan Day puts himself in the winners enclosure. 1pt S.Lee to win Group 2 11/2 Partybets These are strange odds. 2 weeks ago Stephen Lee made the final of The Masters. Granted not through sensational scoring but more solid matchplay and that could well be the tactic needed to come through this group. He's in a group with 2 decent matchplayers in Ken Doherty and Marco Fu. Neil Robertson is more a potter than anything and is so out of form it's untrue and Joe Swail is solid but not spectacular. Lee beat Fu in the semis of the Masters and while Doherty performed better there his form still isn't brilliant so with Lee's confidence hopefully being high despite losing in the final at Wembley I'll have a small bet on him to win this group at a big price. 1pt D.Dale to win Group 4 12/1 Partybets This price is absolutely massive, particularly when none of his opponents in the group are in any real form. Dale can be very hot and cold but he showed in Shanghai in the 1st tournament of the season that when he's hot he can be very good. Dale beat Peter Ebdon and Mark Selby in that event so he can beat the big names. Ding looks to be the main danger as I've said earlier but he isn't exactly flying right now and Graeme Dott, Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams can't have much confidence between any of them. Dale is capable and could be the one to push Ding the closest in this group so is worthy of a small stake.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup

Monday 4 February 2008	Home	Draw	Away	bookmakers margin on the event. However, they do not take account of commissions that may be charged.">BPP
Borg v Higgins (11:00GMT)	15.00	6.20	1.28	101%	Details »
Hide « Borg v Higgins
Day v Perry (11:00GMT)	2.30	3.30	3.25	105%	Details »
Hide « Day v Perry
Doherty v Fu (13:00GMT)	2.80	3.25	2.70	104%	Details »
Hide « Doherty v Fu
Lee v Robertson (13:00GMT)	3.35	3.30	2.37	102%	Details »
Hide « Lee v Robertson
Drago v Murphy (17:00GMT)	9.00	4.50	1.50	100%	Details »
Hide « Drago v Murphy
Hendry v Selby (17:00GMT)	3.25	3.30	2.50	101%	Details »
Hide « Hendry v Selby
Dale v Dott (19:00GMT)	3.25	3.30	2.28	105%	Details »

Ding, Junhui 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.16 Tie 3.2 3.2 3.2 3 3.1 3.25 3.05 3 3.25 3 3.2 3 3.3 Ebdon, P 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.3 3 3.35 3.6 3.5 3.25 3.25 3.5 3.4

I'm going with 3 on Monday. 10pts S.Lee to beat N.Robertson (DNB) 11/8 Totesport Stephen Lee comes into this event in decent form after his run to the final of the Masters. Neil Robertson in that event looked completely devoid of any confidence and it could be hard for him to gain any in this event given the matches are so short at best of 6 frames. Lee beat Robertson in a best of 7 in the Grand Prix which should give him extra confidence should be need it and with Robertson well out of form I'll take Lee here. I'll go without the draw in play because Lee doesn't win easily too often. 10pts M.Selby to beat S.Hendry (DNB) 8/11 Paddy Power Mark Selby looks a real class act at the minute. He made the semis in the UK Championship before O'Sullivan made a 147 to take him out and he then went and won the Masters last month, beating Stephen Hendry along the way. Hendry hasn't looked in good touch since the early days of the Premier League and if there's a winner in this one I think it will be Selby. The draw is a possibility though so I'll take Selby without the draw. 10pts D.Dale to beat G.Dott (DNB) 11/8 Stan James Dominic Dale won in China at the Shanghai Masters in the 1st event of the year so we know he has what it takes to beat the top names. Graeme Dott though has done hardly anything at all since winning the World Championship back in 2006. He won the China Open last season but this season he's barely won a match. When he was in the Premier League last season he was forever moaning about the length of the matches and he has never performed well in the group stages of the Grand Prix which is similar to this. If Dominic Dale arrives in Malta confident and in good form like he did in Shanghai he should have too much for a struggling Dott. Again though this could be tight so I'll leave the draw out of it.

[WoodyTHFC]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup I think I will just go for the outright this week and concentrate more on the Welsh Open ranking tournament next week. The outright i fancy is Doherty @ 16/1 var e.w and 3/1 to win his group var. His form had been patchy for about 18 months or so but there were some real signs at the Masters that he had recaptured some of that old spark. Eventually he went out to the winner Selby in the semi in a deciding frame but before that he blitzed Murphy with century break after century break to close out that game and won 6 frames on the trot to beat Williams in his first game. That run should give him a fair bit of confidence and looking at his group, Robertson is not in great form, Fu and Lee in better form, particularly Fu but they are not impossible players to beat and neither is Swail.

[Sir Puntalot]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup I really hate this new format with shorter matches, although it does make it more competitive. Here are the matches without the draw, and I would advise anyone not to bet "with the draw".

Monday 4 February 2008	Player 1	Player 2	bookmakers margin on the event. However, they do not take account of commissions that may be charged.">BPP
Day v Perry (11:00GMT)	1.61	2.37	104%	Details »
Hide « Day v Perry
Doherty v Fu (13:00GMT)	1.90	1.90	105%	Details »
Hide « Doherty v Fu
Lee v Robertson (13:00GMT)	2.37	1.66	102%	Details »
Hide « Lee v Robertson
Drago v Murphy (17:00GMT)	6.00	1.16	102%	Details »
Hide « Drago v Murphy
Hendry v Selby (17:00GMT)	2.20	1.72	103%	Details »
Hide « Hendry v Selby
Dale v Dott (19:00GMT)	2.37	1.66	102%	Details »

[Sir Puntalot]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup I seriously could not rule out Drago causing a shock with massive home support and best of 7 really does give him a much better chance than normal. I don't really find any match particularly appealing, bar Drago @ 6.00, so I'll probably sit this round out. :ok

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Time to get some coin back from the Masters:ok DALE (DNB) @ 2.37 Stan James. Dott has been in shocking form for a while, and really don't see it improving here. He doesn't like the short matches or the group format as we have seen from his performances in the Premier League and Grand Prix. I'd be looking to oppose him with pretty much anyone and Dale is certainly good enough. He started this season well and could fancy a run at another overseas event. ROBERTSON (DNB) @ 1.66 Blue Sq. Robertson has been struggling for form for a while, but I thought he played pretty well in the Masters losing out to Fu in a final frame. I like him in short matches and a quick couple of wins in a group format could be just what it takes to get him going. I don't like Lee, I've still got no idea how he made it to the final of the Masters. In the final, he was completely gone by the end, so maybe finishing like that his confidence won't be as high as it should be. Even not in top form, Robertson should be the heavier scorer and I'd make him more like 1.5 with the security of DNB.

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup ROBERTSON to win Group 2 @ 4.00 VC. I just really like Robertson this week - it's a great chance for him to get something going. Also think it's a reasonable group full of "medium" sort of players I can't see any of them performing spectacularly. Don't fancy Lee this week, for him to do it two tournaments in a row would be a surprise. Doherty is playing better, but I'm still not convinced and don't fancy him over the shorter format. Fu is a worry, but his exceptional form from earlier in the season I think is slipping a bit. Don't like Swail in the shorter format and don't think he's playing too well anyway. Willing to have a go with Robertson to come through a tough group.

[the mighty rams]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Hey guys, does anyone know where i can watch the Ryan Day match? I've put eurosport on and there showing the Higgins match :wall I've gone for a double of Lee and Day in their matches today. Simply on form from the masters really. I think Day will win his match, but im a little unsure on Lee. But we'll have to wait and see. :hope

[Wanderer89]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup 1st bit of profit for today with robertson winning :D. Was going to do selby later but now using the money for football. Back to the snooker tommorow :clap

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Yeah perfect start giving Lee a battering 5-1:D I probably shouldn't ask this, but is it frame difference / frames won that determine the winner if tied on points or is it H2H? I did proper research, honest:lol

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup

Yeah perfect start giving Lee a battering 5-1:D I probably shouldn't ask this, but is it frame difference / frames won that determine the winner if tied on points or is it H2H? I did proper research, honest:lol

It's frame difference mate, then frames scored then H2H :ok. Dominic Dale saved a disastrous day for me and I'll stick with him again tomorrow. 10pts D.Dale to beat M.Williams (DNB) 6/5 Stan James Dominic Dale came from 2-1 down to beat Graeme Dott 4-2 on Monday and he should gain a lot of confidence from that because Dott played well. Dott knocked in a 97 and a 70 so for Dale to beat him was a good effort. He played well too. He put together runs of 67, 56 and 72 so he looks to be cueing well. Mark Williams could be anything here. He could be the Williams who played well in Telford or the Williams who was on about quitting at Wembley. He's never been a fan of format changes and short matches anyway which won't help his cause. The match Dale had will be such an advantage and I think if there's a winner in this Welsh clash it will be the more wacky Dale.

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Cheers mate:ok MURPHY (DNB) @ 1.83 Stan James. Bit poor from Selby today losing 4-2 to Hendry after being 2-0 up. I know he hit a century, but still that must hurt the confidence a bit. Murphy beat Drago today who was woeful, but looked OK in doing so in a low-key contest. I just think Murphy is the better player, and at similar odds I will generally back him against Selby, and feel like this is a good situation to do so with the security of DNB. JUNHUI @ 2.00 Stan James. Taken this on the 3-way market, as even with the draw in play, this price looks massive. Ding was excellent tonight taking care of Ebdon, racing into a 3-0 lead without conceding a point and then making it over the line after Peter got going a bit. Dott again struggled in the short format leading twice against Dale but still managing to lose 4-2. He seems to let his head drop in this sort of format, and the way Ding is scoring I see this being comfortable.

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup After Ding's win yesterday i take him to win today vs dott who seems to be struggling a little. Also like Maguire to beat Drago he should be to strong for him and complete an easy 6-0 victory Higgins is a risky choice as Day can play well but i think higgins looks in good form and can nick this maybe 4-2 Ali Carter should have enough in his armoury to dispatch Alex Borg another wildcard who got thumped yesterday Am taking them as an accumulator that pays 6.9/1 Opinions appreciated

[Seeker]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Good work in this section, keep it up:D I've to agree with picks on Maguire(just won first frame) and Carter. They have too much class for local heroes:) Drago and Borg. Odds were(are) nothing special, but it really looks like banker. Sometimes even @1,3 contains solid value, but everybody have to judge it by himself if this(carter) is that case. Personally I played Maguire/Carter(@1,66) combo for medium stakes. Good luck:ok

[Seeker]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup sorry, sent it 2x.

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Hey Seeker Agree totally just added ding and higgins due to there form yesterday for a bit of value

[the mighty rams]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Treble for me today of Day, Carter and Robertson. Day looked in decent touch yesterday, whilst Higgins was really struggle to get any kind of breaks going. Carter should breeze his match against a very poor Borg (who i think i could beat!). And finally Robertson who looked like he's finally coming back into form and could be a good bet to win this tournoment. Odds of 8/1 for that treble. :hope

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup I hope u lose mighty rams :-) i have higgins nothing against you tho

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Again annoyed last frame ding winning 3-2 and he tries a stupid cannon to let dott in to clear up. I am having a bad run right now

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Dale won the last 2 frames to win 4-2 putting me +4 for the event now. That group 4 is looking like a shootout between Ding and Dale which is a perfect situation for me. Lee's defeat ends his chances given his awful frame difference and unless Day wins the last 2 frames, Group 1 looks like it's Higgins' to lose.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup I'll go with 2 on Wednesday. 10pts G.Dott to beat M.Williams (DNB) 5/6 Stan James Graeme Dott has played well in this tournament so far even though he only has 1pt to show from his 2 matches. He's knocked in breaks of 97, 70, 64 and 67 so far in the event so he appears to be cueing well. Williams had a 48 and a 53 against Dale but still lost. The fact Williams scored points in every frame suggests he had chances against Dale but failed to capitalise on them. Neither of these players were in much form coming into the event and the loser here will be gone with Dale already on 4pts and Ding 3 with those 2 having to play each other but Dott's shown he could be coming back into a bit of form and I'll take him without the draw in play. 10pts A.Carter to beat J.Higgins (DNB) 7/4 Paddy Power These odds are stupid. If this was a best of 9 match Carter wouldn't be much bigger than 7/4 so here in this best of 6, where the outsider has more of a chance this price has to be taken. Even without such a big price this is a good bet. Carter opened up his campaign with a 5-1 win over Alex Borg on Tuesday night and he hit a century and a couple of other big breaks which should boost his confidence. Higgins has won both his matches fairly comfortably but his highest break is only 62 so far which means he's not winning frames in one visit. He's only won 1 frame to nil so his opponents have been getting chances and if Carter gets the same amount of chances, he's good enough and playing well enough to take them. Carter's form coming into this event wasn't brilliant but he tends to up his game against the big guns and his 1st match win should give him a lot of confidence and without the draw in play I'll take the improving Englishman to beat the World Champ here.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Just to say, I'm actually +5.7 for the event. For some reason I was thinking Dale was 6/5 last night as well as tonight :unsure. Not the case though so +5.7 :ok

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Kevshat do u have msn? would really love to discuss some snooker more with u? mine is [email protected] add me. You really fancy carter i was going to back higgins tomorrow?

[Wanderer89]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Every bet has come off so far but ding spoilt what should of been a nice treble, 3 2 up at the table, looking certs to clean up but messed up his 1st shot!

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Don't mention that Ding shot...you know it cost me bucks....silly shot

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup

Kevshat do u have msn? would really love to discuss some snooker more with u? mine is [email protected] add me. You really fancy carter i was going to back higgins tomorrow?

I have mate but I'm about to disappear for the night. Will add you tomorrow :ok. I just think Carter will get chances and given his scoring tonight might take them. I wouldn't want to be taking Higgins at 8/15 (DNB) especially when a draw is a good result for him and betting with the draw is suicide in this event. Carter's no mug and 7/4 is a far too big IMO.

Every bet has come off so far but ding spoilt what should of been a nice treble' date=' 3 2 up at the table, looking certs to clean up but messed up his 1st shot![/quote'] As I've told you before, post your bets up BEFORE the event. Nobody remotely cares what happens to them if the 1st mention of anything is after the event :wall:wall.

[Wanderer89]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup

I have mate but I'm about to disappear for the night. Will add you tomorrow :ok. I just think Carter will get chances and given his scoring tonight might take them. I wouldn't want to be taking Higgins at 8/15 (DNB) especially when a draw is a good result for him and betting with the draw is suicide in this event. Carter's no mug and 7/4 is a far too big IMO. As I've told you before, post your bets up BEFORE the event. Nobody remotely cares what happens to them if the 1st mention of anything is after the event :wall:wall.

Good job i didn't eh :lol. ok tommorow, most confident on docherty vs swail, swail been poor so far and docherty looks pretty good, certainly good enough get past swail. Don't know were you got 8/15 from but evens for higgins i'll also take up, higgins will be full of confidence after his last 2 games and will be too strong for carter, won't be as easy for higgins though but imo should get through.

[adam7982]

Re: Snooker: Malta Cup Kevshat cheers for the reply and look forward to discussing more with you always good to exchange ideas. Wanderer you causing trouble again!:lol Just about to look at the odds for today will post my selections shortly!