JUST four players remain at the Unibet British Open with underdog Oliver Lines mixing in esteemed company in Cheltenham alongside established champions John Higgins, Mark Allen and Mark Selby. Lines, a professional since 2014, is a perfect example of a player who has long been well regarded without having the actual results to back up his reputation. That has changed this week and he can comprehensively transform his career, indeed his life, if he goes all the way to the £100,000 first prize on Sunday. It could help him that he’s the outsider of the four. Allen was world no.1 at the start of the season, while Selby and Higgins can boast eight World Championship titles between them, so they are all well used to challenging at the business end of tournaments. More will be expected of them, with less pressure on Lines – or at least that’s the theory. So who is likely to come though and reach the final?
John Higgins to beat Oliver Lines – 1/4
Higgins has appeared in 84 ranking event semi-finals while Lines is through to his first, so the gulf in experience in this afternoon’s first match is vast. After finally dropping out of the elite top 16 following a 29-year unbroken tenure, Higgins will return immediately if he wins the match. He holds a 4-0 career head-to-head advantage over Lines and is back playing some reliably good snooker, making two centuries yesterday in seeing off Elliot Slessor. Higgins has a new cue and has become increasingly comfortable using it. It’s been three and a half years since his last ranking success but he is once again playing the sort of snooker which suggests silverware is close. Credit to Lines, who has battled for ten years on tour to reach his first semi-final. His father, Peter, is a former professional and boasts a 6-3 winning record over Higgins, but Oliver is in uncharted territory and, though some will argue he has nothing to lose, could find it tough going.
Mark Selby to beat Mark Allen – 4/5
Selby was unlucky not to beat Dave Gilbert more easily than 5-4 on Friday while Mark Allen could have put Judd Trump away long before his eventual 5-3 victory. This promises to be a bruising encounter in which tactical play comes to the fore, but Selby has scored very heavily all season, with only Trump making more centuries. If Allen tries to tie Selby up he may come unstuck himself. Selby can play that game better than anyone, but he’s also racking up the big breaks. Allen broke Trump’s resolve but this is an entirely different assignment.
David’s Double!
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