Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire
12th January 1900hrs
Rugby – England – Masters
Pick Mark Selby -1.5 handicap
Bookmaker Coral
Odds: 1/7 odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January
One of the most consistent performers in the big tournaments this season has been Mark Selby.
He is a former Masters champion as well and he is the strong favourite to move through this first-round contest on Tuesday.
He meets Scotland’s Stephen Maguire and the winner will go forward to face either Neil Robertson or Yan Bingtao in the quarter finals.
Table of Contents
Mark Selby Preview – Selby hits the Masters in form
Mark Selby is a three-time Masters champion and he looks as if he has a good chance of getting close to his fourth.
But the last time that he lifted the Masters title was back in 2013 so he is aiming to end a long drought.
Selby was one of the many shock first-round fallers in the last edition of the Masters.
But he is a quote of 1/3 to avert any disaster in this opening round match of the 2021 Masters* (odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January).
The “Jester From Leicester” is bringing a nice bit of from forward with him into this event as well.
He has claimed two ranking titles this season, the most recent of those being the 2020 Scottish Open in mid-December.
That was here at the same venue at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes where the Masters is being played this year.
A Mark Selby 6-3 correct score option is at 9/2 for this match* (odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January).
Given the form that he has been carrying this season, it looks like a fairly comfortable opener could be coming Selby’s way.
This will be the first meeting between the two players since the 2020 Players Championship quarter-finals, a match lost by Selby.
Stephen Maguire Preview – Maguire to fall short in Masters appearance?
There has been little form from Stephen Maguire this season to really suggest that he is going to pull off an upset here.
The Scotsman has not been past the third round of any ranking tournament played this season.
His underdog status is highlighted in the 12/5 quote on him to win this match on Tuesday* (odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January).
Maguire was a losing quarter finalist last season in the Masters and has never made it to the final.
Stephen Maguire has won two of the last three meetings with Selby, but we just can’t get to that in this one.
That’s because Selby has looked more like his old self this season.
For a snooker betting option, a Stephen Maguire +1.5 handicap is at 5/4* (odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January).
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If you do look at the head to head between the two players, things are pretty even.
Of the 206 contested frames between Selby and Maguire, the Scotsman has taken 98 of them.
Maguire is W14 D1 L15 overall in the head to head with Mark Selby which does perhaps suggest that he could keep things relatively tight.
The big question mark though is over his recent form.
He made the third round only at the UK Championship and the Northern Ireland Open.
Then it was a first-round exit for Maguire at the Scottish Open.
Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire Betting Advice
We would have to go with the victory going to Mark Selby in this contest, as he is the better player on paper.
It’s been a decent season from Selby as he has been back amongst the titles and carries some nice form forward into this.
We think that Selby 6-3 correct score is a reasonable option at 9/2 to have a play at* (odds taken 2013 GMT, Monday, 11th January).
Key Facts – Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire Betting Tip
- Mark Selby has won two ranking titles this season
- Mark Selby is a three-time Masters champion
- Stephen Maguire is W14 D1 L15 against Selby in the head to head
That’s because the head to head between the two is fairly tight and Selby has dropped two of the last three against Maguire.
We don’t see that happening, but after last year’s first-round exit, there could be a few nerves around for Selby in this opener.
So Maguire can make decent inroads against “The Jester From Leicester”, but come up short nonetheless.
The best betting odds for Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire
Mark Selby to win: 1/3 at Bet365
Stephen Maguire to win: 12/5 at Bet365
