Walden the value in Australian Open Snooker

Australian Open

Snooker
Published: 12/07/2013

The 2013 Australian Open Snooker Open takes place this week (July 8th to 14th) and is the second ranking event of the 2013/14 season. Here is our guide to the best of the bets from the tournament.

The market is headed by Neil Robertson who is the 4/1 (paddy Power) favourite. The Australian recently won the Wuxi Classic and will hope to follow this up with victory in his home event. The draw has been kind to Robertson also with him in a weak quarter. That being said though I just can not bring myself to back him at that price and will be looking for some value at bigger prices.

Mark Selby is next in the betting at 9/2 (william hill/BWIN) and he is another talented player who at the right form could win this comfortably. The Jester from Leicester though is much too short to back as he exited this event last year at the opening stages. Ding Junhui is an 8/1 (GENERAL) third favourite though the Chinese ace has not looked in the best of form in recent weeks going out in the second round of the Wuxi Classic and losing to Cao Yupeng in the final of a Asian Indoor event.

Shaun Murphy is a 9/1 (SKYBET/boylesports) chance though as he did not even qualify for the Wuxi Classic looks one to avoid. Barry Hawkins won this event in 2012 and the defending champion is a 16/1 (boylesports) chance to repeat that success. Hawkins was defeated by Cao Yupeng in the last 32 at the Wuxi Classic and did show many signs of form.

The 2011 winner Stuart Bingham is next in the betting at 20/1 (boylesports) though he went out in the opening round here last year and has not won a tournament since.

Ricky Walden is a 25/1 chance (bet365/betway) and although he let us down in the Wuxi Classic when going out in the first round I am prepared to give him another chance. The draw is wide open for him with no Robertson and no Selby in his section. Walden ended the year in great shape reaching the semi-finals of the World Championship and if he can regain some of this form then he looks great each-way value (note of the two prices listed only bet365 are offering each-way odds).

The second selection is also in that half of the draw and is Robert Milkins a player who is a 40/1 (GENERAL) chance. Milkins started the year in good form with an appearance in the last four at the Wuxi Classic where he only lost to Robertson the eventual winner. Last year was also a successful one for him on the Tour where he rose eighteen places and he looks value here in an event that has had a few shock winners. The third and final selection for the list is Joe Perry who is in the opposite half of the draw to the other two. Perry is a good value 66/1 (YOU WIN) to win the tournament. Although this firm do not offer each-way it is such a drop to the next best price that I would go win only on Perry. The player has had a great year so far winning the APTC (Asian Players Tour Championship) which was followed by a quarter-final in the Wuxi Classic and he is the last name to add to the portfolio.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Ricky Walden , EW, 25/1 (bet365)
SILVER: Robert Milkins, EW, 40/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Joe Perry, WIN, 66/1 (YOU WIN)

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (12/07/2013) but are subject to change.

12/07/2013     © Frixo 2024

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