Snooker tips: World Championship previews for second round at the Crucible

World Championship snooker tips: Second round

2pts David Gilbert over 6.5 half-century breaks at evens (Paddy Power, Betfair)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

David Gilbert v Judd Trump

• Sunday April 25, 1000 BST

2019 champion Judd Trump made light work of Liam Highfield in round one, running out an apparently easy 10-4 winner thanks to nine breaks of over 50. It was the perfect start to Trump's bid for a six ranking-title success of the season, though he wasn't completely faultless and perhaps David Gilbert won't be quite as charitable as Highfield was in the early part of that match.

It was in 2019 that Gilbert enjoyed his finest hour, coming within fractions of meeting Trump in the final of this event until John Higgins broke his heart in a dramatic deciding frame of their wonderful semi-final.

Things haven't quite gone to plan for Gilbert since — a defeat in the final of last year's English Open meaning his wait for that maiden ranking win continues — but he has found some form in recent months. Gilbert came good at the Masters in January when reaching the last four while he displayed flashes of his brilliant best when reaching the last 16 of the Gibraltar Open last month.

Gilbert built on that when blitzing Chris Wakelin in the first round here and any loss of confidence he might have been suffering from before Christmas looked a distant memory has he reeled off three centuries in that effortless manner he has when cueing well. To put that result into context, Wakelin had appeared to have the potential to be a real dangerman this year having comfortably beaten Matthew Stevens and Xiao Guodong in qualifying, but Gilbert was much too strong as he turned in a bold display.

Being able to repeat the feat against Trump will be another challenge altogether, but he should continue to score against an opponent who is also happiest when able to play an attacking game. That style of contest would suit both players and with the potential for 25 frames of snooker, or at least somewhere close to that, backing Gilbert to make OVER 6.5 HALF-CENTURY BREAKS in the match at evens (Paddy Power, Betfair) looks a pretty solid play.

For all Trump ought to prevail and progress to the last eight, I do think Gilbert has shown enough in recent weeks to suggest he will be competitive and if he does, it will be his breakbuilding that does the heavy lifting. As such, I was tempted to take the 9/4 on offer for Gilbert to make the highest break in the match, but Trump is a pretty formidable adversary in that field and I'll stick with the half-centuries play on Gilbert in what should be an entertaining affair.

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