Betfair Masters Snooker Day 1 Tips: Allen can make his class tell

Starting with tonight's match between Mark Allen and Mark Davis, Paul Krishnamurty will be providing daily tips throughout this week's Betfair Masters...

 

During the ten years to have passed since Mark Davis lost in the wildcard on his Masters debut, most snooker experts would have offered pretty long odds about him getting a second chance. That appearance came courtesy of a win in the qualifying event, that no longer exists, so the only remaining route was to significantly improve his ranking to make the top-16. Not likely for a 40 year-old journeyman who'd never reached the semi-finals of a ranking event in 20 years a pro.

 

Having finally reached that elusive semi-final target three times already this season, Davis has defied doubters like me and thoroughly deserves his place amongst the elite. Now Davis has made it, however, the world number 16 will discover just how stiff the competition is these days. Mark Allen may not be one of the market leaders to win this year's Betfair Masters, yet the Northern Irishman is a live candidate for any tournament he enters and correctly regarded as strong odds-on favourite to win this first round match.

 

Davis' form in one-table situations is a worry. Just as he took decades to produce his best on television, his few poor efforts this season seem to have come in the limelight of those semi-finals. At York last month, he'd played as well as anybody through the previous three rounds, yet Davis capitulated almost immediately against Mark Selby. Practice may well make perfect, but for now he's probably best opposed in these one-table scenarios.

 

With regards Allen, there's always a slight worry he'll lose the plot and cause an incident, but when on song he's a much higher class of player. His record in four previous Masters is excellent, winning more matches than he's lost. Interestingly, every player to have defeated Allen in the Masters went on to make the final. I expect he'll negotiate this opening hurdle with some comfort and recommended taking 1.95 about Allen winning by more than 1.5 frames on the handicap.

 

Recommended Bets

5u Mark Allen (1.5 frames) @ 1.95 (vs M Davis)

 

Bet HERE

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