https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker...reviews/182640
Sporting Life · Journalist
21:56 · August 02, 2020 · 13 min read
Monday's action sees former champion Shaun Murphy and the exciting Jack Lisowski enter the fray - check out our match-by-match previews here..
Quotes .
"Jack Lisowski v Anthony McGill
MONDAY AUGUST 3 (1000 GMT) & (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC & Eurosport
World Championship draw and schedule
As natural talents go, you'd struggle to find too many better than Jack Lisowski and when in full flight, he really is a sight to behold.
Nevertheless, his wait for that first ranking-title still goes on and he returns to Sheffield on the back of a frustrating season, a run to the final of the Scottish Open notwithstanding.
An all-action player who pots for fun and has a wonderful touch in the balls, Lisowski's safety game still has room for improvement and he has yet to produce his best in three previous visits to the Crucible.
His first-round opponent this year is Anthony McGill, a former Indian Open winner and an established member of the top 16 until more recently when he has found results harder to come by.
Like Liswoski, he has struggled for his best again this term but was one of the most impressive players on show in qualifying and certainly knows his way around the table.
Like many have done before, he will be well aware that dragging Lisowski into a dog fight might afford him the best chance of victory.
Prediction: Lisowski 8-10 McGill."
" Shaun Murphy v Noppon Saengkham
MONDAY AUGUST 3 (1430 GMT) & TUESDAY AUGUST 4 (1000 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC & Eurosport
World Championship draw and schedule
It was way back in 2005 when qualifier Shaun Murphy was crowned world champion and 15 years on, he will be hopeful of tasting Crucible success for the second time.
Murphy has made the final twice since 2005 and would appear to have plenty going for him this year on the back of a strong campaign which has included wins at the China Championship and Welsh Open.
Along with those victories, Murphy has continued to make his mark all season as his much-improved tactical play compliments his wonderful long game and heavy scoring.
His opponent on Monday, Noppon Saengkham, is a useful operator in his own right but having made the semi-finals of the World Open last term, has been unable to maintain his progression this time around.
Still, Saengkham secured his second Crucible appearance on merit and should ensure Murphy at least enjoys a good opening workout.
Prediction: Murphy 10-6 Saengkham."
"Mark Selby v Jordan Brown
MONDAY AUGUST 3 (1900 GMT) & TUESDAY AUGUST 4 (1430 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC & Eurosport
World Championship draw and schedule
From 2014 to 2017 Mark Selby was the undisputed king of the Crucible as he rose to the summit of the world rankings and swept aside all before him in Sheffield.
However, he has failed to get anywhere close to reaching those heights in the last two years as inconsistency has crept into his previously rock-solid game and seen him struggle to impact in more recent Triple Crown events.
It hasn't all been doom and gloom, though, and Selby was brilliant in winning the English and Scottish Opens earlier in the season; scoring heavily and looking to retain all the hunger that drove him to become the best player on the planet not so long ago.
There is no doubting that he is still capable of beating the best when on song but he has become harder to predict nowadays and it is worth noting that even when in his pomp, the first round has often been his hardest match of the World Championship.
Selby has actually been beaten four times in the first round at the Crucible already and he looks worth taking on again this year, at least in the handicap markets.
He faces a Crucible debutant in Jordan Brown who comes with a glowing reputation and with the respect of some good judges who know his game well.
Brown looked a smart prospect when coming through qualifying and with the prospect of no crowd making the daunting Crucible Theatre slightly less intimidating than usual this year, there is certainly an angle in thinking Brown can at least give a good account of himself.
Another slow start from Selby would certainly help and the 6/5 on offer from Sky Bet about Brown to cover the handicap (+4.5) looks worth a bet.
Prediction: Selby 10-8 Brown
Best bet: Jordan Brown to beat Mark Selby (+4.5) at 6/5."
It must've been Richard 'Tricky Dicky' Mann's day off as the tip's were posted by 'A Journalist' .
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