Place Your Bets For Masters Showdown!

With the 2006 PartyCasino.com World Pool Masters set to break off this Friday in Egmond we asked top sports betting expert Matt Jackson to cast his eye over the first round matches to see if there are any bargains to be had for the discerning punter.

Over the last few years, the pool betting market world-wide has grown sharply with more and more gamblers taking an interest in the game and for those fans who study the sport closely, there are plenty of opportunities to gain the edge over the crowd and pocket some cash.

‘This year’s Masters looks tougher than ever and with Ronnie O’Sullivan making his first major 9 ball appearance since vowing to give pool a real go earlier this year, interest in the tournament has never been higher.

‘There are plenty of interesting first round match-ups, none more so than O’Sullivan’s Saturday night clash versus against double World Champion Wu Chia-ching .

‘The 17 year-old from Taiwan had an unbelievable 2005, winning firstly the World 9 Ball Pool Championship from a 128 man field in Kaohsiung in July.

‘He followed that up later in the year by taking the WPA World 8 Ball in the Middle East to create a remarkable double.

‘For O’Sullivan, a 6/4 shot with Stan James, it’s a big ask. No-one can question his abilities with a cue but this is a baptism of fire. Despite a grueling flight from Taipei , I take Wu to hold off the Rocket.

‘The tournament opens on Friday afternoon with defending champion Raj Hundal taking on Japan ’s Hiroshi Takenaka . Last year’s victory showed that the Englishman was well at home but at 8/11 seems a little short priced against the little known but well thought of Japanese.

‘At 5/4, Holland ’s Niels Feijen looks a great bet against the odds-on Rodney Morris (USA). The Dutchman’s Masters record is not good but in what is even money contest, that price is hard to resist.

‘The last match on Friday afternoon sees two of Europe’s best young players face off with Nick van den Berg taking on Vilmos Foldes of Hungary. Both are 5/6 but I take the home advantage to see the Dutchman through.

‘Steve Davis opens proceedings on Saturday afternoon as he takes on Alex Pagulayan . There are rumours of the 2004 World Pool Champion playing less and less in favour of other pursuits but given Davis ’s dismal record in this event, the 2/7 priced Filipino looks a cert.

‘My nap of the first round is London ’s Imran Majid who takes on Alex Lely on Saturday afternoon. Majid has been in cracking form of late, becoming the first ever Brit to win on the EuroTour last month and following that up with a fifth place finish in Austria last weekend.

‘By contrast, Lely, one of Europe ’s best on his day, has hit a slump that has seen him plummet to No.30 on the European rankings. As an 11/10 outside, I’m lumping on the Maharajah.

‘The final first round match sees a clash of the former champions in Thomas Engert and Tony Drago . The in-form Engert recently came home second in the WPA World Straight Pool tourney in the USA and maintains his position at the top of the European rankings.

‘Drago though has been playing well on the EuroTour of late and his fast style scares many a player. He beat a host of top names to win this title at the same venue in 2003 and at 6/5 maybe worth a punt.’

Matt Jackson will be appraising the quarter final pairings on Saturday afternoon.