Our Snooker expert Richard Mann previews the Welsh Open final in Cardiff and is predicting a close encounter between John Higgins and Barry Hawkins.
Recommended bets: Welsh Open, final
2pts win over 14 frames at 10/11
John Higgins and Barry Hawkins will contest the final of the Welsh Open in Cardiff today having enjoyed relatively comfortable passages in their respective semi-finals.
Higgins, who is bidding for a record fifth Welsh Open title, brushed aside Gary Wilson 6-2 while Hawkins booked his final berth by seeing off Noppon Saengkham 6-4.
Both players were some way below their best, however, with Higgins missing a host of easy balls and Hawkins stumbling over the line having looked set to run out a wide-margin winner when leading 5-2.
With that in mind, this match might not produce the high-quality standard of play we have come to expect from the pair with a close battle more likely.
It is has been long week for both players in Cardiff with plenty of matches, and playing two games on Thursday will have taken plenty out of the two.
Understandably, both looked a little flat yesterday and although a big final should get the juices flowing, they might just struggle to find their very best form.
Higgins is 1/3 with Sky Bet to claim glory, with a Hawkins a 9-4 chance, but while those odds probably underestimate the latter, a better bet might be in the Total Frames Market.
Over 14 frames is available at 10/11 and with it hard to see one player dominating the other in what could be a scrappy affair, those odds make plenty of appeal.
Posted at 0930 GMT on 04/03/18.
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