Champion of Champions final tips: O’Sullivan for third title over Higgins
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Champion of Champions final tips
Snooker veterans and multiple world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins will battle on the baize for the 59th time, as Coral give their 2016 Champion of Champions final tips.
Besides three draws, the Rocket leads the head-to-head 30-25 against the Wizard of Wishaw. More crucial for punters, though, is the unbeaten record at this event O’Sullivan boasts.
Rocket Ronnie thus starts as odds-on 1/2 favourite for victory over Higgins (13/8) at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. What value bets appeals, though? Here’s our snooker experts’ Champion of Champions final tips…
Higgins v O’Sullivan odds
In four of the last five encounters that have gone more than three frames, the score after four has been level. Back a 2-2 draw again as the correct score after four frames, then, at 33/20.
Scottish potter Higgins looks worth a wager to draw first blood and win the opener at 11/10, especially considering his tougher route to the final on paper.
While O’Sullivan beat Robin Hull, Martin Gould and Mark Allen, the Wizard had to eliminate Triple Crown winner Shaun Murphy, the cue sport’s crown prince Judd Trump and Chinese sensation Ding Junhui.
Will Rocket Ronnie get bored by two sessions?
Unlike the other matches this week at the Champion of Champions, the final is a two-session best of 19 frames affair. Punters looking at Higgins v O’Sullivan odds must bear this in mind.
Could a match of that length actually work against the Rocket? He’s made short work of his quarter and semi-final fixtures, winning both by four frame margins.
The handicap market is set at 2.5 frames, so at evens O’Sullivan may appeal to cover such a deficit, but he might also be frustrated by the finishing line being so far away.
Higgins’ clashes have got closer and closer as this year’s Champion of Champions event progressed, so bogging Ronnie down in tactical play could be a shout. That makes a 5/1 price for there to be a deciding frame a tempting longer range punt.
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