Free snooker betting tips: Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins face off in Welsh Open clash
Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins meet in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open and snooker expert Richard Mann is predicting a close encounter.
Recommended bets: Welsh Open, day five
1pt win John Higgins (+1.5) to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan at 10/11
Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins go head-to-head in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open on Friday night with a mouth-watering clash in store.
O'Sullivan is 4/9 with Sky Bet to progress while Higgins can be backed at 13/8.
Two of the giants of the game, the pair have amassed nine World Championships between them - O'Sullivan five and Higgins four - and both are already firmly established as two of the finest players ever to grace the green baize.
Both aged 42, their careers have walked a similar path with the two bursting onto scene in the early 1990's and leading a new generation of players, taking the game to new heights and consistently raising the bar ever since.
The Rocket and The Wizard of Wishaw, as they are often known, have enjoyed numerous titanic battles against each other over the years and their respect for one and other remains fiercely strong.
O'Sullivan has been in sublime form of late, winning the World Grand Prix at a canter last week and inflicting whitewashes on David Grace and Mike Dunn in his two ties yesterday.
With his season's tally of ranking titles currently standing at four, quotes of 10/11 about him lifting another trophy here are entirely justified.
Higgins has been producing some fine snooker this week himself, though, and he made two century breaks in his 4-0 defeat of Nigel Bond yesterday.
We could be in for another cracker between the pair tonight and, at the prices, I'm happy to have a small interest on Higgins to cover the handicap (+1.5 frames) at 10/11.
In one of the earlier quarter-finals, Barry Hawkins plays the exciting Yan Bingtao.
Hawkins has been a very good performer over the years and has really found some form at this tournament, rarely looking troubled and beating Martin Gould comfortably in his previous round.
He is evens to book his semi-final spot but Bingtao is a terrific young talent who very nearly knocked O'Sullivan out in Preston last week and his form here suggests he remains on the up.
This one is hard to call and no bets are advised.