Masters Betting: Tournament opens up for underdogs as favourites tumble

Gary Moss
16 January 2020

Is Ali Carter underrated in the betting?

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Six previous Masters winners have been beaten so far and that creates a golden opportunity for less heralded names, says snooker writer Gary Moss

"Maguire v Gilbert is a clash of two form men and looks on paper to be the pick of the ties in the last eight. Maguire is a fraction over Gilbert's price at 8/1 to win the event and is another man who will sense an opportunity to pick up a big one with some of the sport's box office names already packed off home."

It's been a Masters full of surprises so far

The tournament began at Alexandra Palace on Sunday with eight former champions and with the first round now finished we have already lost six of them.

We have seen Ding Junhui - the winner of the last snooker major at the UK Championship in December - lose to Joe Perry; Aussie Neil Robertson surrender a 5-1 lead against Stephen Maguire; three-time winner Mark Selby dumped out by Ali Carter and current world number one and defending champion Judd Trump halted by Shaun Murphy among others.

This has coincided with six underdogs winning their opening matches but with this element of surprise comes opportunity - an opportunity for someone to really make their mark with some of the top stars out of the picture as we move into the quarter-finals.

Maybe this is the week for one of the unlikely lads to put their name on the trophy.

Carter cashing in on free hit

"Today, it's the Ali Carter show."

These were The Captain's words after he famously knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Championship in 2018 having previously insisted snooker had become the Ronnie O'Sullivan show and this week could end up with the same sentiments.

After all, Carter only finds himself at the Alexandra Palace owing to O'Sullivan's withdrawal from the event. Carter is the only player outside of the world's top 16 in the rankings who is in the event and as a result has a free hit at the tournament.

We all know that he is made of stern and determined stuff and as he edged his way past Selby 6-4 in round one it looked as though he really wanted to make his slice of luck to get here count.

He remains an unfancied 14/1 to win the event on the Betfair Sportsbook (each way bets available and paying at one third of the odds) but could he really do the unthinkable and take home the trophy?

If he can, he will be akin to Goran Ivanisevic as wildcard winner of Wimbledon in 2001 or the Denmark football team that won the European Championship in 1992 having been invited along to play with just a week's notice.

Next up for Carter is an experienced John Higgins who, after the carnage of round one, has been installed as the new tournament favourite at 3/1.

It's difficult to judge just what kind of form Higgins was in during his 6-1 win over Barry Hawkins who looked wildly off form.

Higgins is favourite on reputation. He may be a previous two-time winner but it is an event he has struggled at more recently with his last win here coming some 14 years ago.

Dream debut

You'd be forgiven for failing to recall a Masters debutant performance as polished and accomplished as the stunning display Dave Gilbert produced to beat Mark Allen.

The Tamworth potter bulldozed his way past the Northern Irishman 6-1 dispelling any fears he might struggle with nerves to myth.
Gilbert earned his place at this event with a year of extreme consistency plus a big boost in the rankings from his run to the semi-finals of the World Championship. This performance was arguably as good as anything he produced back in April at The Crucible.

Everyone knows how good Gilbert is but this was a statement on the big stage that has got people talking about whether he could have a real crack at this title, which if it happens would see him follow in the footsteps of his practice partner Selby who won the event in his maiden appearance back in 2008.

You can back him to lift the trophy at 13/2 in the outright market.

First though, he must find his way past Scotland's Stephen Maguire who produced one of the greatest Masters comebacks in round one to beat Robertson 6-5 having trailed 5-1.

Maguire is buoyed with confidence having reached the final of the recent UK Championship.

This is a clash of two form men and looks on paper to be the pick of the ties in the last eight. Maguire is a fraction over Gilbert's price at 8/1 to win the event and is another man who will sense an opportunity to pick up a big one with some of the sport's box office names already packed off home.