Free snooker betting tips: Shanghai Masters preview

15:59 · MON November 13, 2017

After a 14/1 winner last week, Simon Crawford is backing John Higgins at the Shanghai Masters and also has a 25/1 each-way fancy.

The life of a modern-day snooker player is certainly not a dull one.

In the past three weeks, there have been back-to-events with the English Open in Barnsley immediately followed by the International Championship in the Chinese city of Daqing. In addition, for those with a ranking tournament win under their belts in the last 12 months it was back to the UK and Coventry for the Champion of Champions.

There are more air miles this week as the Shanghai Masters gets under way and as well as a battle on the table, for those who have played in all four events there is also a major test off the green baize with fatigue and jet-lag understandably taking their toll.

There will be few complaints from the players though, as a packed calendar means greater opportunity to earn significant prize money from a game that has now become well and truly global.

SKY BET'S SHANGHAI MASTERS ODDS!

Experience is a key commodity in trying to navigate a path through the current demanding schedule and few on the circuit have more than John Higgins.

I sided with him at the recent International Championship, mainly based on current form, with the Scot playing well and most of his major rivals not so.

So it was a surprise when he lost in the quarter-finals to 17-year-old home favourite Yan Bingtao, although it must be remembered the teenager had an inspired week as he also thrashed Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-1 and put out Ricky Walden and an in-form Jack Lisowski before losing in the semi-finals.

So I am happy to give Higgins another chance, especially as he has won seven major titles in Asia including this event back in 2012 when he beat Judd Trump.

The Scot, who has won 29 ranking titles in a glittering career that shows no signs of ending even at the age of 42, has already won the Indian Open this season.

It must be said he arrives in China on the back of a chastening 6-0 defeat at the hands of O'Sullivan in the Champion of Champions.

Obviously that will have not gone down well with the Wizard of Wishaw, but while some players will brood about such a loss and take it into their next match, Higgins will know it was just a bad day at the office and he will quickly bounce back.

The early exit will also mean the Scot can fly to Beijing in enough time to combat the time difference so there could be a silver lining.

Those ahead of him in the outright market could well be hampered by the recent logistics the schedule has thrown up.

Mark Selby went out early in Coventry but admitted he was still suffering with jet-lag after winning the International Championship so going back to China is probably the last thing he needs.

I'm still happy to back against O'Sullivan in events outside of the UK, Judd Trump's form has dipped recently and Ding Junhui - who was fourtn favourite - has pulled out with an eye problem which I believe strengthens Higgins' claims further.

So at a general 9/1, the Scot looks a solid bet as a past winner of the tournament and also still possessing the game to compete with anyone on the circuit.

Mark Allen was a beaten finalist in the International Championship

Mark Allen was within touching distance of the fourth ranking title of his career a coupe of weeks ago at the International Championship.

After putting out Zhao Xintong, Mark King, Martin O'Donnell, Judd Trump and giant-killer Yan Bingtao, the 31-year-old left-hander was beaten 10-7 by world number one Selby who was superb on the day.

As a result he did not qualify for last week's Champion of Champions in Coventry, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise in a similar way to Higgins' early exit.

Allen will arrive in China fresh, having had plenty of time on the practice table and should quickly be able to shake off the effects of a long flight.

He does face Bingtao in his opening match and the young Chinese will be gunning for revenge after his 9-2 defeat in the semi-finals of the International Championship.

But on current form and with much greater experience on his side you still have to make Allen your pick in that one.

It's been 18 months since his last ranking title success, the Players Championship Finals, but of the seven ranking finals he has appeared in, five of them have taken place in Asia.

He won back-to-back World Open titles in 2012 and 2013 and was runner-up in the International Championship in 2014 and also in the 2017 edition.

Allen also has previous in the Shanghai Masters, finishing runner-up to Stuart Bingham in 2014 and reaching the semi-finals 12 months later.

He showed two weeks ago in Daqing that his game is getting back to its best and, if it does, then Allen is more than capable of winning the big events so 25/1 looks well worth a small each-way punt.

Where to watch: Eurosport