Live on Eurosport 2: Tue 13.45: As Round 1 continues at the Welsh Open, Neil Robertson is 1/3 (Ladbrokes) to beat Nigel Bond.
Robertson, the 2nd seed, is 17/2 with Stan James to win outright in Newport but recent displays in Germany and at The Masters fail to lend any conviction to his title chances.
Higgins, the defending champion, is 11/2 with Ladbrokes to retain his trophy but he is on a crash course with Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter finals. The latter is Coral’s 6/1 tournament fav and he gets underway on Wednesday.
Ding Junhui comes in behind those two at 7/1 (Totesport) and after winning The Masters and reaching the quarters at the German Masters, stands a chance but he is in the ‘tougher’ side of the draw.
Mark Williams has a chance then, in the lower half. The Welshman will be well supported and the 3rd seed has to be fancied at 17/2 with Betdaq. His main opposition in his half of the draw is Neil Robertson, a potential semi-final opponent and given the latter’s dip in form, surely Williams has a good chance of making the final, 4/1 with Boylesports, to add this to his recent German Masters gong.
Williams starts today as 8/15 fav (888sport) against Marco Fu.
Tuesday 15 February:
Allen, M v Lawler, R (13:00)
Williams, M v Fu, M (13:00)
Ebdon, P v Dale, D (14:00)
Selby, M v Bingham, S (14:00)
Dott, G v Burnett, J (19:00)
Robertson, N v Bond, N (19:00)
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