The 2019 Masters has already seen on upset as 15th seed Luca Brecel knocked out reigning champion and top seed Mark Allen in the first round. Can tournament favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan avoid going the same way? O’Sullivan takes on 12th seed Stuart Bingham in his opener.
This is up in the top half of the draw where Brecel is. The winner plays Welshman Ryan Day in the quarter finals who fought back to beat John Higgins in the first round.
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Stuart Bingham Odds*
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2/7
Stuart Bingham 11/4
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 13th, 2019 at 9”03 pm)
The Masters in the second of the Triple Crown events of snooker, the first this season having been won by O’Sullivan. That was the UK Championship. O’Sullivan is the all-time leader in Masters titles having won the event seven times before. After back to back wins in 2016 and 2017 his run came to an end last season earlier than expected in the tournament.
But he’s back at the Ally Pally and favourite to win this. Stuart Bingham has very little form behind him at the Masters. He reached the semifinals in 2016, his best ever finish at the tournament. Five of his last six appearances at the Masters has seen Bingham exit at the first stage.
The last time O’Sullivan and Bingham met was at the Champion of Champions tournament last year with ‘The Rocket’ winning 4-2. In the overall head to head between the two players, it is O’Sullivan with a 14-3 lead which includes a victory for him over Bingham in the semi-final of the 2016 Masters.
Predictions
We don’t see an upset being produced in this opening round match at the Ally Pally. O’Sullivan is the red-hot favourite and in trying to shop around for a bit of value a solid O’Sullivan -2.5 frame handicap at 5/6 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 13th, 2019 at 9”03 pm) looks a solid proposition.
