Robertson momentum can continue as Perry wants another upset
Published:Neil Robertson will meet Dave Gilbert for the first time today, with the Australian odds-on at 1/8 to triumph at the Crucible.
Robertson’s slick snooker in a first round success over Ken Doherty has seen his price to win the tournament cut to 9/2, and he will be feared following that impressive 10-4 success.
A strong season so far appears set to continue at this Sheffield competition, with Robertson hopeful of adding to a 2012 Masters success, and replicating his World Snooker Championship victory of 2010.
In his way of progression to the quarter-final stage is Dave Gilbert, whose 5/1 price comes in light of the fact that he has never played a three-session match before.
His first round triumph over world number 12 Martin Gould has seen him rocket to 57th in the world rankings however, and he will hope to turn in a respectable performance, even if he is likely to come up short against the ‘Thunder from Down Under.’
Meanwhile, tonight’s clash sees Scotsman Stephen Maguire, who conquered starlet Luca Brecel in the first round, as 2/7 favourite to overcome in-form Joe Perry and claim a quarter-final berth.
Maguire bested his 17-year-old opponent 10-5 at the Crucible, to give himself a chance to improve on a previous-best run to the semi-finals of this tournament.
His opponent in round two will be no pushover however, as former World champion Graeme Dott would attest.
Perry recorded an emphatic 10-1 success over Dott to set up this tie, and after going into that match second-favourite, he is likely to see support from punters at 11/4 today.
He will recall a narrow success over Maguire at the World Championship back in 2008, where his 13-12 win saw him advance to the semi-final, and could produce a similar result here.
More cautious punters can take the 1/1 odds on Perry winning given a 3.5 frame head start meanwhile, which looks a terrific bet.
