Our Snooker expert Richard Mann fancies Joe Perry in his Welsh Open clash against Stephen Maguire in Cardiff.
Recommended bets: Welsh Open day two
2pts Joe Perry to beat Stephen Maguire at 6/5
2pts Michael Georgiou to beat Mitchell Mann at 8/13
Joe Perry looks overpriced in this afternoon's Welsh Open encounter with Stephen Maguire and is fancied to make it into round two.
Perry hasn't been in the easiest to predict so far this season but there have been recent signs that he is now returning to his best form, a 6-1 defeat of Joe Swail in the China Open and a 4-2 victory over Graeme Dott at the World Grand Prix last week encouraging signs for the former World Championship semi-finalist.
Maguire has probably enjoyed the better season to date and edged out Perry when the pair met in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship in December.
However, there was very little between the two on that occasion and Maguire looked shattered having failed to finish off Ronnie O'Sullivan when holding a 4-2 lead in the World Grand Prix last week.
That defeat will take plenty of bouncing back from - Maguire said as much in post-match interview - and with Perry coming into this the fresher animal, he looks worth backing at 6/5.
The evening session sees Michael Georgiou begin his challenge when taking on Mitchell Mann and quotes of 8/13 about him progressing look very fair.
Georgiou, a big-price tip in my outright Welsh Open preview on Monday, has been riding on a crest of a wave of late, earning himself a sizeable cheque when wining the Snooker Shoot Out before showing up well again in Preston last week, pushing the aforementioned Maguire all the way in their last 16 clash.
He should have too many guns for Mann, who has found results hard to come by in recent months, and the latter looks set for another tough evening's work.
Posted at 1040 GMT on 27/02/18.
