2016 UK Championship tips: Robertson to win quarter, three terrific round 1 accas
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2016 UK Championship tips
The first of snooker’s hallowed Triple Crown events gets underway on Tuesday, November 22 as the Barbican Centre in York hosts the UK Championship.
Hot off the back of the Coral Northern Ireland Open, green baize action switches from Belfast to Yorkshire for a dozen days of awesome action. The TV cameras come in from the second round that starts on Saturday, but in the meantime there’s money to be made.
Our snooker experts assess the quarter betting markets here and also look at day-by-day round 1 accas in our 2016 UK Championship tips…
Neil Robertson odds to win quarter 1
Although he’s defending champion, Neil Robertson odds to win his quarter of this year’s draw are an attractive 3/1 because Ronnie O’Sullivan is in the same area.
However, The Thunder from Down Under is far more consistent at this event, reaching the quarter-finals or better in five of the last six seasons.
The Rocket may be a five-time UK champion, but has a lot to live up to as odds-on 4/6 favourite to win his quarter, so the smart money should be on Robertson.
Rested Trump to take quarter 2
Snooker’s crown prince Judd Trump decided to take a week off and not enter the Coral Northern Ireland Open ahead of a tilt at a second UK crown after lifting the 2011 editions.
It might be one of the wisest things The Juddernaught has done after reaching at least the semis of the last three ranking events he played at earlier this autumn.
With only fifth seed Ding Junhui (9/4 to come through their part of the draw) likely to stand in his way, take Trump as a worthy 11/8 favourite.
Bingham worth backing to come through competitive quarter 3
Like Trump, Stuart Bingham took last week off after touring China and then returning home for the Champion of Champions event. Again, resting may prove wise ahead of a crack at this UK title to add to his 2015 World Snooker Championship success.
Quarter 3 does admittedly look more competitive, though sixth seed Shaun Murphy (10/3 to win it) is in poor form. Barry Hawkins (7/2), meanwhile, may be tired after late finishes in both the semis and final when runner-up to Mark King at the Coral Northern Ireland Open.
This leaves Ball Run Bingham as the sensible selection to win quarter 3 at a fine 5/2 price, especially as he’s made the last four in York in two of the last three seasons.
World number one Selby to snatch quarter 4
Mark Selby remains ranked as the best potter on the planet after claiming a second Crucible crown back in May. The Jester from Leicester certainly saves his best for Triple Crown events too.
It is hard to oppose the world number one, despite the presence of John Higgins (15/8) and Mark Allen (13/2), who knocked Selby out of the Champion of Champions event at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena earlier this month.
Selby has swept to the semis or better in three of the last four seasons, so side with the Jester to do so again at 5/4.
Tasty Tuesday tenfold round 1 acca
And so to the first of our round 1 accas. A tempting Tuesday tenfold that returns £29.90 off a fiver is first up.
Ding Junhui (1/25)*, Marco Fu (1/18)*, Hawkins (1/18)*, Trump (1/14)*, Coral Northern Ireland Open semi-finalist Kyren Wilson (1/7)*, Michael Holt (1/6)*, Ryan Day (1/5)*, Anthony McGill (1/4)*, Rory McLeod (4/7)* and Fergal O’Brien (8/15)* all to win combined give just under 5/1*.
All face lesser or ageing opposition, so that tempting price is available on Tuesday.
Wicked Wednesday tenfold round 1 acca
For day two of the UK Championship snooker, we also put forward a tasty tenfold round 1 acca. This time a fiver returns £29.05.
Murphy (1/300)*, O’Sullivan (1/33)*, Higgins (1/25)*, Mark Allen (1/16)*, Coral English Open winner Liang Wenbo (1/14)*, Ricky Walden (1/6)*, Robert Milkins (2/7)*, Luca Brecel and Northern Ireland Open champion Mark King (both 2/5)* and Ken Doherty (8/13)* together give combined odds of better than 24/5*.
Once again, this is a case of worthy match favourites who should easily get past inferior opposition.
Turn a fiver into over £34 on Thursday 14-fold round 1 acca
And finally, we’ve picked out a mega 14-fold round 1 acca for day three of baize battles in York. Staking a fiver again returns £34.15.
Back Bingham (1/40)*, Selby (1/33), Mark Williams (1/25), Robertson (1/16)*, Ali Carter (1/12)*, Joe Perry (1/10)*, Stephen Maguire (1/9)*, Mark Davis (1/8)*, Alan McManus (1/7)*, Graeme Dott (2/9)*, Dominic Dale and Michael White (both 1/4)*,Peter Ebdon (2/7)* and Matthew Stevens (2/5)* who combine for odds better than 29/5.
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*All prices quoted for the accas correct at the time of publishing.
