When solely the 16 greatest gamers on the planet get collectively we should always know that there isn’t a such factor because the sudden, however nonetheless we are going to shocked by some outcomes at The Masters within the coming days.
The primary spherical at Alexandra Palace sees the highest eight on the planet drawn in opposition to the subsequent eight within the rankings, leaving it perilously tough to pick any winners.
Final 12 months Mark Allen arrived in north London shortly after profitable the Northern Eire Open and UK Championship and was tonked 6-0 by Barry Hawkins in his opening match.
Hossein Vafaei turned up as a really late alternative, making his debut in opposition to a three-time champion and waltzed previous Mark Selby into the second spherical.
The chances should not simply upset within the opening spherical. Final 12 months Shaun Murphy had brilliantly crushed defending champion Neil Robertson first up, solely to be whitewashed 6-0 by Stuart Bingham within the quarter-finals.
On the similar stage Mark Williams picked up a uncommon win over Ronnie O’Sullivan, his first over the Rocket in 9 years in a protracted format match.
The 2022 semis noticed Robertson beat Williams in a deciding body regardless of needing two snookers and completely nobody does that to the craftiest of veterans.
The 2021 closing was gained by debutant Yan Bingtao, the 2020 showpiece was an unlikely conflict between Bingham and Ali Carter and Judd Trump profitable in 2019 could have been no shock, however walloping O’Sullivan 10-4 within the closing was a critical shock.
In fact there are shock leads to each match, however the level is that nobody ought to truly be shocked by something within the Masters.
Sometimes it would make good sense to select a sure winner earlier than a match, the bookmakers will make one participant heavy favorite and all of the pundits can be leaning in the direction of that man. By no means be so sure.
There’s a trio of first spherical matches this 12 months that match into that class.
Mark Selby will go into his conflict with Rob Milkins as clear favorite, few can be tipping Kyren Wilson to beat man-of-the-season Trump, whereas O’Sullivan can be broadly fancied to oust Ding Junhui.
These underdogs are all prepared, prepared and capable of have their day at Ally Pally and don’t be shocked in the event that they do.
Different ties are clearly a nightmare to name. Try to decide winners from Mark Allen vs John Higgins, Luca Brecel vs Jack Lisowski and Neil Robertson vs Barry Hawkins. Anybody nailing three from three there has achieved very, very nicely.
What makes the Masters all of the extra unpredictable is that it usually doesn’t match right into a participant’s kind for the remainder of the season.
Trump could be very accustomed to profitable a number of titles in a season, however the Masters was the one trophy he lifted during the last marketing campaign.
Yan’s win in 2021 is his solely title since 2019, Bingham has gained one title since ’19 and it was the Masters, Allen lifted one trophy within the 2017/18 season and it was at Alexandra Palace.
Whoever emerges victorious at Alexandra Palace can be rapidly tipped as a number one contender to win the World Championship in Might, however solely as soon as in 20 years has somebody gained the Masters and left the Crucible with the trophy in the identical season – Trump doing so in 2019.
O’Sullivan appears guess for Ally Pally glory after profitable the UK Championship simply final month, however once more, simply as soon as in 20 years has anybody claimed the UK after which the Masters in the identical marketing campaign – Selby in 2012/13.
The unpredictability of the Masters is the great thing about the match. The best and most anticipated sporting contests are as near 50-50 affairs as potential.
We don’t need to know who’s going to win earlier than a ball is struck and at Ally Pally we don’t know in any respect.
The Masters will get underway on Sunday 7 January at Alexandra Palace.
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