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888.com World Snooker Championships Betting: Day can turn the lights out on Higgins

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Ryan Day is one of the bets of the second round, says Paul Krishnamurty

JOHN HIGGINS V RYAN DAY

Starting on Thursday evening, this is the match that I reckon will turn out to be the best of the round, as defending champion John Higgins takes on improving Welshman Ryan Day. Given his status in the game and record in this particular tournament, its no surprise to see Higgins start as [1.55] favourite. Those odds stem largely, however, from historical achievements rather than anything we've seen this season.

Day has actually earned 3,000 more ranking points than Higgins this season. No doubt this has much to do with the world champion's self-confessed lack of focus, and he certainly looked in better nick than for some time towards the end of his opening round victory over Matthew Stevens. He wasn't really put under serious pressure there though, and Day should be much more capable of capitalising on any weaknesses than his compatriot Stevens.

Since Mark Selby won the Welsh Open, Day has inherited the title of best player yet to win a ranking event. As we saw with Selby, that breakthrough win can be a painfully long time coming, but sooner or later Day is going to break his duck. A win over Higgins at the Crucible would represent a career highlight, and could prove the catalyst for greater things. He certainly looked in fluent touch during his opening victory against Michael Judge.

At [2.84], Day certainly looks worth a trade in a match I expect to more or less go the distance. And at [46.0] in the outright market, he represents the best value in the top-half of the draw.

Selection:

Ryan Day to win @ [2.84]