World Snooker Bet of the Day: Try these correct score combos on Ronnie and Murphy

Paul Krishnamurty
18 April 2014

Shaun Murphy will have to work hard to progress

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Throughout the World Championship, Paul Krishnamurty will be providing his best bets every day. Read his plans for the opening set of matches here....

"Cope is no mug...the Stoke potter was one of the game's best youngsters before losing his way and produced some of his best snooker at The Crucible."

Back in 1994, the last time we saw such a short-priced favourite for the World Championship, the famous pro gambler Harry Findlay was asked to name his best recent bet. Findlay nominated £25,000 at 1.04 on Stephen Hendry beating Surinder Gill in the first round. The favourite duly won 10-1, thus proving that money buying at tiny odds can actually be a good plan.

In 2014, Ronnie O'Sullivan starts at exactly the same odds to beat Robin Hull so unless you've got a Findlay-style bank, betting on the main opening day match must involve speciality markets. In such circumstances, the best value option often lies in correct score markets, where generous odds-against is available about pretty obvious outcomes.

In this case, it's very hard to imagine Hull getting more than seven frames but equally, he has nothing to lose and is more than capable of knocking in a couple of frame winning big breaks. I suspect he'll avoid humiliation during the morning session, after which a bet on 10-4 and 10-5 will look highly plausible. Combined, that pair of scores pays around 4.03/1.

A similar strategy is recommended for Shaun Murphy's match against Jamie Cope. Again Murphy is a rock-solid favourite, strongly fancied to progress, but he's often started slowly here and Cope is no mug.

The Stoke potter was one of the game's best youngsters before losing his way and produced some of his best snooker at The Crucible. Unlike many qualifiers, he has therefore no reason to be nervous and is fancied to stay competitive into the second session. Here, lets try a trio of bets on 10-6, 10-7 and 10-8.

Recommended bets

Back Ronnie O'Sullivan to beat Robin Hull 10-4 1.5u @ 7.06/1
Back Ronnie O'Sullivan to beat Robin Hull 10-5 1u @ 9.08/1

Back Shaun Murphy to beat Jamie Cope 10-6 1.5u @ 7.413/2
Back Shaun Murphy to beat Jamie Cope 10-7 1.5u @ 8.415/2
Back Shaun Murphy to beat Jamie Cope 10-8 1u @ 10.09/1