Masters / Paul Krishnamurty / 10 January 2012 /

Paul Krishnamurty profiles the players who have been drawn in the second quarter, including a former-champion and one of the game's biggest underachievers...

Neil Robertson: [11.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 3
Last five Masters: Q/L16/Q/L16/Q

The 2010 World Champion is becoming something of a mainstay in the latter stages of the biggest events, although surprisingly he's yet to go beyond the quarter-finals in the Masters. That will surely change soon, especially as Robertson looks an improved, more mature performer this season, winning a couple of PTC events and reaching the semis at York, where he narrowly lost a classic to Trump. A major contender at perfectly respectable odds.

Mark Williams: [12.5]
Provisional World Ranking: 2
Last five Masters: L16/S/-/L16/L16

It's nine years since Williams won his second Masters title, although most subsequent failures in London can be ignored as they came during a long, bleak period of the Welshman's career. He's bounced back to somewhere very close to his best over the last 18 months, and is now provisionally ranked second behind Selby, who touched him off in the Shanghai Masters final. The draw could have been kinder though, with in-form Stephen Maguire first up before a series of elite opponents.

Mark Allen: [18.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 11
Last five Masters: S/Q/Q/-/-

Some bizarre outbursts against snooker supremo Barry Hearn earned Allen few friends off the table in York, but his performances on the baize at least restored his reputation as an emerging force in the game. That was Mark's first appearance in a ranking final, and the way he fought back to lose only 10-8 against a flying Judd Trump further fuelled expectations that the big breakthrough must come sooner rather than later.

Stephen Maguire: [26.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 9
Last five Masters: L16/S/Q/Q/S

Arguably snooker's greatest underachiever, the former UK champion at least arrives in London in cracking form, fresh from a triumph in the latest PTC. Maguire also looked in pretty good nick at the UK Championship before running into Trump in unstoppable form, so he could represent a bit of value at the biggest odds of the four candidates in his quarter. There are no easy games from this draw, but the favourite in his section is Neil Robertson, against whom Maguire has often produced his best snooker. Indeed, his 6-3 quarter-final victory in the 2009 Masters was one of the best televised performances in recent years.

Recommended Bet: 2pts Back Stephen Maguire @ [26.0]

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