World Grand Prix acca

We go with a midweek five-fold in Preston

Preston’s Guild Hall provides the backdrop as snooker’s World Grand Prix takes place over the course of the week, with a champion crowned on Sunday. Punters can follow the action live courtesy of ITV4, and have their say on a range of markets, from match betting to outright winner, here at Coral.

Shaun Murphy arrives as defending champion, having beaten Stuart Bingham courtesy of a 10-9 score in a pulsating final 12-months ago. Followers would love more of the same, but neither man is expected to feature at the business end of this year’s renewal, with some big prices going on them in the outright field.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, rather predictably, rates as a lot safer option, if the sports traders are to be followed, and it’s little surprise to see them adopt that stance, considering his form. Rocket won this year’s Masters recently but was dumped out of the German Masters at the first-round stage. A sporting genius no doubt, but it still looks like he picks and chooses when he turns up.

Concentrating on the here and now and we put forward a midweek accumulator designed to line your pockets. Prices and returns are, as always, correct at the time of writing and a £5 bet on our five-fold pays a handy £63.15

O’Sullivan beat Bingtao

We go in nice and early with the short-priced banker and that is, of course, Masters champion Ronnie O’Sullivan. Now, we know what he did last week, and that he can be a bit clumsy at times, making him a frustrating man to trust with your cash, but I fancy him to have a real go at this tournament. He should have no issues beating opponent Yan Bingtao at 1/5, a price for multiples only.

King beat Maguire

One at a bit more of a deal and Mark King is picked to better Stephen Maguire at 6/5. King arrives with confidence in his corner, having knocked Ronnie O’Sullivan out of the German Masters at the first-round stage, sending shockwaves through the sport. A determined fightback from King saw him win four frames in-a-row to clinch a 5-4 upset. That fighting spirit will stand him in good stead here.

Bingham beat Day

Stuart Bingham suffered a surprise defeat to Anthony Hamilton in the semi-finals of the German Masters and will look to make amends here, and better last year’s effort when he was a narrow runner-up behind Murphy. The world number two is taken to beat Ryan Day and looks to be available at a decent price, with Coral giving 6/10.

Murphy beat Holt

Another that makes perfect sense to me, but has been picked up by the traders too, is Shaun Murphy to beat Michael Holt at 8/15. The Magician, currently number five in the rankings, may not be fancied to go and defend his title, but he told fans recently that he is relishing a return to Preston and one of the game’s most iconic venues. I fancy him to make a better go of winning it than the outright odds give him credit for, and he goes in to boost up our acca returns.

Gilbert beat McGill

The leg that will make or break us, for me, is David Gilbert to beat Anthony McGill. There’s very little between the two but Gilbert showed exactly what he is capable of when leading Stuart Bingham 4-2 last week before losing 5-4. The result was expected, but the effort impressed.

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