Crucible Quarter-Final Preview: Hendry's tournament ends here

World Snooker Championship Betting / Paul Krishnamurty / 28 April 2008 / Leave a Comment

In latest his assessment of the 888.com World Championship odds, Paul Krishnamurty can't see the game's best ever player advancing past Ryan Day

RYAN DAY v STEPHEN HENDRY

As Ryan Day delivered the goods for me in the last round against Higgins, a player I consider a stronger opponent than Hendry, it would be madness to desert him now. I'm on at [46.0] for the title (now [12.0]), and though I wonder if he has the experience to go all the way at Sheffield, reaching the semis looks well within his compass, and [2.04] to do so is a cracking price.

The story of the market here is all about reputation. Hendry has been consistently over-rated in snooker markets for the last decade since clearly deteriorating from his super-human 1990s levels. Going into this tournament, few gave Hendry a prayer of winning an eighth world title. And he looked set for an early bath, before a remarkable recovery in his opening match against Mark Allen. But it's his second round victory over Ding Junhui that has sparked the latest market move in anticipation of a return to form for the best player ever to pick up a cue.

In fairness to Hendry for those wins, he played well. But in my view Ding has been the most over-rated player at these championships. He handed Hendry chances in virtually every frame out of sheer tactical naivety, and equally failed to consistently capitalise on the chances that Hendry gave in return. I'll be surprised if Day gives him anywhere near the same opportunities, and expect the Welshman to boss this match.

The odds don't come close to reflecting recent form. Over the course of the 2007/2008 season, Day has earned nearly 4,000 more ranking points than Hendry. He's looked on the verge of a big breakthrough for some time, and can only have taken great encouragement from that fine 13-9 victory over defending champ Higgins, especially having trailed early on.

Selection:

RYAN DAY TO WIN @ 2.04