Masters Snooker: Favourable draw makes Trump man to back
Published:
The Masters snooker draw has been held and for punters looking to cash in on the chunky outright odds before the first red rolls into a pocket, look no further than the man they call Money.
Judd Trump is a joint 6/1 second-favourite alongside Neil Robertson, but unlike the Thunder from Down Under, the Bristolian’s potential path to the final does not include a probable semi-final clash with defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan (7/4).
A winner of the famous triangular trophy in 2012, Robertson has actually had an indifferent year by his illustrious standards, upset by Graeme Dott in the recent UK Championships at the round-of-16 stage.
Of course, Ronnie took that title after an epic final against Trump at the Barbican, and crucially the Essex Exocet has won three of his last four showdowns against the Australian, the last of which was a semi-final in 2013.
As the Masters pits the world’s highest-ranked 16 players against each other, by nature there is nowhere to hide in either side of the draw, though four wins will deliver you the crown.
Weighing heavily in Trump’s favour, other than his excellent form at the UK’s, is his track record against first-round opponent Stephen Maguire.
Money dumped the Maguire out at the semi-final stage at the Barbican, making it three straight wins over the Scot.
In the previous two years a possible second-round encounter with 2013 champ and reigning world champion Mark Selby would have been a massive deterrent from backing Trump at the outset.
However, the Jester hasn’t been laughing of late either, suffering an inglorious second-round UK exit to 63rd seed David Morris, while Trump has bettered him in four of their last five clashes.
Crucially, a 6-1 battering was handed out in November at the Champion of Champions event.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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