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UK Snooker Tips: Class act Stevens to nail handicap

Snooker RSS / / 03 December 2011 /

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Can Matthew Stevens shrug off the pressure and make it into the last 16?

Can Matthew Stevens shrug off the pressure and make it into the last 16?

"Stevens must win tonight's opening round match if he is to remain in the elite top-16 after the next cut-off point."

One of snooker's most limited players stands between an under pressure Matthew Stevens and the next round of the UK Championships. Back the Welshman to advance, says Paul Krishnamurty.

Starting this pivotal week in 15th place on the provisional world rankings, it is imperative that Matthew Stevens wins tonight's opening round match if he is to remain in the elite top-16 after the next cut-off point. Fortunately for the Welshman, he's been pitched against one of the most limited players on the circuit.

Marcus Campbell has one claim to fame, that nobody will ever be able to take away - beating Stephen Hendry 9-0 in the opening round of this event 13 years ago. Apart from that, the Scotsman has never gone beyond the quarter-finals of a full ranking event, and only reached that stage once. A 4-0 defeat to Stephen Lee in last week's PTC10 offered no indication that the 39 year-old was about to suddenly improve.

To be fair, if that PTC were the sole formguide then Stevens could hardly be a confident pick either, but over the course of the 10 events, Stevens is ranked 14th on the Order of Merit, compared to Campbell's 37th.

Moreover, in terms of their career pedigree, there is of course no comparison. Stevens is a former UK champion, in 2003, and has also twice lost the final. That class difference should be enough for Matthew to give away 1.5 frames on the handicap.

Recommended Bet
Matthew Stevens to win handicap (-1.5 frames) (vs Campbell) @ [1.81]

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