Snooker / Paul Krishnamurty / 10 January 2012 /

With three Masters finals to his name Mark Selby is a proven performer in the capital and can do favourite backers a favour this time round, says Paul Krishnamurty in his look at the four players in the third quarter

Mark Selby: [8.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 1
Last five Masters: L16/W/2/W/-
The Masters has been the most productive of the big events for Selby, who reached three consecutive finals from 2008 to 2010, winning twice. That fine record in London must bode well, especially given that he has improved as an all-round performer since the last of those titles.
"The Jester from Leicester" is now provisionally ranked world number one, and assumed strong favouritism during the World and UK Championships after excellent early performances, only to let his growing fanbase down both times.
Such occasional blips remain Selby's weakness, but his time will surely come soon and there is much to like about his draw at Alexandra Palace.
Pitched first up against the man he hammered in the 2008 final, Stephen Lee, Mark looks very much the favourite in the bottom half of the draw, well worthy a trade at [8.0].

Shaun Murphy: [19.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 6
Last five Masters: L16/Q/L16/Q/Q
Given his stellar record in snooker's other main events, Murphy's failure to get beyond the Masters quarter-finals is surprising. This has been an ordinary campaign so far, with a win in the low-grade Brazil Masters invitational his only appearance in a final. Nevertheless, The Magician's best form remains exceptional, which explains his status as one of the few men to have won both the World and UK Championship titles.

Martin Gould: [44.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 12
Last five Masters: -/-/-/-/-
This year's sole Masters debutant may not be quite the no-hoper suggested by his odds. Gould is arguably the most improved player in snooker, and arrives on the back of some good performances, reaching the semis and final of the last two PTCs, in addition to winning the Power Snooker event.
Gould's opener at Alexandra Palace will be a rematch with Shaun Murphy, who defeated him 6-4 in the last-16 at York, but the 'Pinner Potter' may fancy his chances of revenge, having suffered an appalling run of the balls in their last match.

Stephen Lee: [70.0]
Provisional World Ranking: 16
Last five Masters: -/-/-/2/Q
Courtesy of a solid recent run to sneak back into the top-16, Lee makes his first Masters appearance since 2008, when he was trounced in the final by Mark Selby. Stephen enjoyed a pretty easy draw that year, which will certainly not be the case this time around with Selby awaiting in the first round. Correctly priced as the outsider of 16.

Recommended Bet
5u Mark Selby @ [8.0]

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