Masters Snooker Preview – January 18th, 2019 at 1.00 pm
This is a big showdown in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Masters. Trump has already been involved in one major showdown as he went up against his so-called rival Kyren Wilson in the first round. The winner of this one will move through to face the winner of the Barry Hawkins versus Neil Robertson match later in the day.
Mark Selby v Judd Trump Winner odds*
Mark Selby 4/5
Judd Trump evens
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 17th, 2019 at 4:29 pm)
Mark Selby a three-time Masters champion and the third seed for this year’s edition of the tournament. He was up against Stephen Maguire in the first round of action. Selby looked pretty calm and collected and in control of things as he swept his way to a 6-2 victory in the match. He was always expected to make a win that match and for this quarter-final tie he is the 4/5 odds favourite* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 17th, 2019 at 4:29 pm).
In the first round, Trump was in a high-pressure situation against Kyren Wilson, the man who had beaten him in last season’s semifinals of the Masters. It was Trump who held his nerve as he saw off Wilson with a 6-2 victory. So now he has to stay right on top of his game as he goes into what is perceived to be an even bigger challenge for him. Trump is on the hunt to make his first-ever appearance in a Masters final.
Selby leads the head-to-head 13-11 against Trump from their 24 previous meetings. They have met in this season’s Champions League already with Selby producing a 4-1 victory in early January. Their last coming together in a tournament was back in 2016 when Trump raced away to a 6-2 victory over Selby. This will be the first meeting at the Masters between the two Englishmen.
Judd Trump has not managed to win the tournament during the 2018/19 Snooker season. Mark Selby, however, has as he picked up the 2018 China Championship back at the end of September. Of the two, Selby has the greater track record at the Masters having reached five finals with three of those ending in a title for him. His last victory at the Masters came back in 2013 when he beat Neil Robertson.
Prediction
Should be a good match up with the aggressive Trump taking on the more controlled approach of Selby. But we have to stick with the favourite in this one which is Selby at 4/5 odds as he looked fairly unflustered in his first round match* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 17th, 2019 at 4:29 pm). He has such a tremendous track record at this very tournament.
