Well, it is almost like we’ve stepped back in time a little bit, as the final of the UK Championship snooker will be contested between John Higgins and Mark Williams. John Higgins was strongly tipped here at the start of the tournament to come good, in his first televised event since coming back into the game following a six month suspension. There was just the feeling that he was going to mark his full comeback with something a little bit special, and that is on the cards. The proud Scotsman has a lot to prove to himself and the game, and is firing and ready now as he goes in search of his third UK Championship title. Higgins has made his way past Stephen Lee, Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and then comfortably progressed past Mark Allen in the semi final. Higgins won his first event back after his ban, which was a PTC event in Germany, so there were signs that he was in good shape coming into this. His hunger must really have been fuelled by his time away, and he continues to be favourite to lift the title after Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson in particular fell by the wayside.
Online bookmaker promotion: There is an interesting money back special at BetFred for this one. If you back either player and they hit three century breaks in the final, but doesn’t actually win the title this year, then BetFred will give you your lost stake back as a Free Bet up to the value of £200. John Higgins has hit two so far in the tournament, while Mark Williams has yet to bag one. BetFred welcome new customers with a free matched first bet of up to £50 on new accounts.
The second semi final between Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy (who had knocked out World Champion Neil Robertson in the quarter finals) was a thriller which went right down to the wire. Murphy was in a strong position needing just one frame from the last three to beat the Welshman to the post, but a stunning finish from Williams, who had looked disjointed for most of the match, saw him take the final three fames. That gave him a nail biting 9-8 win, after saving his very best to the last. Now Williams, who is also a two times winner of the UK Championship, will look to rediscover some of that old magic to take the title again. Out of the two players you have too look at the performances of Higgins as being the more fluent of the two finalists, and therefore it makes good sense to back him. Mark Williams has only managed a high break in the 80’s so far throughout the tournament, has beaten Mark Davis, Stephen Hendry, Mark Joyce and then Murphy in the semi’s. This will be his fist ranking final now for seven years, and even the player himself is a little bit surprised by his outcome. His performances have been a little more gritty and scratchy than Higgins, but he has hung in there, and Williams still manages to pull out some world class long pots.
Online bookmaker promotion: Offering some extremely good coverage during the course of the tournament, SportingBet Snooker Special for the UK Championship is a last frame decider, which would have come into play quite a few times. When you place a pre-match bet on the final between John Higgins and Mark Williams, if your player is beaten in the deciding frame, then SportingBet will refund your lost stake as a free bet, up to the value of £25. SportingBet offer new customers to their bookmaking services, a free £50 bet when opening a new account.
Really wouldn’t look further than John Higgins for Sunday’s final at the UK Championship. He is looking just that little more composed than Williams, and Higgins will be expecting to win, where Williams will probably be hoping to. The two players have only met three times throughout their carrers, the last time earlier in the year when Williams triumphed 5-2 at the China Open. Williams also beat Higgins 9-8 in the final of the 2006 China Open and leads the head to head 2-1. The only victory John Higgins has picked up over Mark Williams, was at the 2009 Shanghai Masters, where the Scotsman crushed his opponent 5-1. Williams really shouldn’t pose all that much threat to Higgins, and that is where your snooker betting for the UK Championship final has to go. Don’t really sniff much of an upset.
UK Championship Snooker Final Outright Odds
John Higgins: 2/5 at BetFred
Mark Williams: 19/10 at SportingBet
Who Will make Highest Break
John Higgins: 1/2 at BetFred
Mark Williams: 7/4 at Boylesports
Winning Margin Tip
John Higgins 1-3 Frames for 7/4 at William Hill
