12-1 Higgins to be the master

Sports Betting: RONNIE O’Sullivan was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours List, and the Rocket will be hoping to celebrate his new status with victory in the Dafabet Masters from Sunday.

But having been dumped out of the Greman Masters in the qualifying rounds following an eight-month competition lay-off, it is hard to justify his odds of 9-2 to win, even given his mercurial talent.

I can’t accept that he has the same opportunity to win as reigning UK champion Neil Robertson or almost a three times better chance than the in-form John Higgins.

In fact, I reckon O’Sullivan’s presence helps to create some value for the other Masters hopefuls and the aforementioned Higgins is a generous price at 12-1.

Higgins is one of the leading players of the season and it took Robertson to beat him in the UK. In a tremendous match, the brilliant Aussie was taken to the wire before prevailing 6-5.

Robertson is joint favourite with O’Sullivan, but is in a tough part of the draw, whereas I expect Higgins to come through a section which includes first-round opponent Liang Wenbo, reigning world champion but out-of-form Stuart Bingham, and the disappointing Ding Junhui.

For a player of his class and experience, Higgins is a huge price and I will be disappointed if he does not at least reach the latter stages.



OLDHAM town team darts star Mark McGeeney cruised into round two of the BDO World Championship at the Lakeside and is now a best-priced 18-1 to win. McGeeney’s prospects were enhanced by the first-round exit yesterday of second favourite Martin Adams.


THE FA Cup third round gets under way this weekend and that means the entry of the Premier League and Championship clubs to the world’s greatest domestic knock-out competition.

Predictably, Manchester City are favourites at 13-2, but it’s tight at the top of the market and I much prefer Chelsea at 7-1.

Given they have no Premier League title commitments and are already out of the Capital One Cup, only an unrealistic tilt at the Champions League and a more winnable FA Cup campaign remain for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

The last time stand-in manager Guus Hiddinck was in charge of Chelsea was when they won the FA Cup in 2009. Lightning could well strike twice.



MANCHESTER City are still fighting on four fronts, and one of them – the Capital One – will occupy their thoughts tonight. City are 21-20 favourites to win the semi-final first-leg at Everton, with the hosts and a draw the same price at 14-5.

Overall, Liverpool are 5-4 to lift the trophy after their 1-0 first-leg victory at Stoke. City are 11-8, Everton 13-2 and Stoke 20-1.



Recommendations: John Higgins to win Masters snooker, 12-1 (general); Chelsea to win FA Cup, 7-1 (general).