Robert Milkins has a tough test in the opening round of the Snooker Masters as he takes on one of snooker's all-time greats Mark Selby. The world number 14 Milkins and 5th ranked Selby meet at Alexandra Palace, London on January 10 and Selby is the betting favorite to secure a comfortable win.
- What? Snooker Masters Round One: Robert Milkins vs Mark Selby
- Where? Alexandra Palace, London
- When? January 10, 2024
Below, you can see the odds for the match from three of the best sports betting sites.
| Masters Snooker |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Milkins | +260 | +280 | +275 |
| Mark Selby | -385 | -340 | -455 |
Robert Milkins
Milkins has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent years, achieving his maiden ranking event victory in Gibraltar in 2022 and following it up with a memorable win at the Welsh Open last year.
However, the current season has proven to be a letdown for the Englishman.
Throughout his career, Milkins has struggled at the Masters, suffering a heavy defeat to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2014 tournament and narrowly losing to Neil Robertson a year later.
The 50th edition of this prestigious event is anticipated to be as captivating as ever, drawing sell-out crowds for each match at Alexandra Palace. Milkins, who entered the professional scene in 1995, acknowledges the mixed blessing of performing in front of such large audiences.
Mark Selby
Selby stands as one of snooker's enduring legends, boasting an impressive record of four world titles and three Masters crowns throughout his illustrious career.
Ranked as the World Number 5, 'The Jester' holds the third-highest number of successes in the history of the Masters event and has secured runner-up positions twice. Despite his storied career, Selby's last triumph at The Masters dates back to 2013. He hasn't made it to the final since 2014.
In the current season, the 40-year-old has yet to clinch a tournament victory, but he has displayed glimpses of his skill. Notably, he reached the semi-finals of the European Masters. He then emerged as the runner-up in the British Open and attained the status of a Shanghai Masters semi-finalist. Most recently he advanced to the quarter-finals of the UK Championship before succumbing to a 3-6 defeat against Judd Trump.
Prediction
The upcoming Snooker Masters clash between Robert Milkins and Mark Selby appears to tip in favor of the seasoned veteran Selby. This match could indeed result in a comfortable win for the 5th-ranked snooker maestro. Selby, armed with a wealth of experience and a reputation as one of the sport's all-time greats, enters the Alexandra Palace arena with confidence and a steadfast determination to advance in the tournament. Milkins, currently holding the 14th spot in the world rankings, faces an uphill battle against the formidable opponent that is Mark Selby.
Betting Picks
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Masters Snooker
Established in 1975, The Masters stands as a distinguished professional invitational snooker tournament, marking its status as the second-longest-running professional competition, trailing only the World Snooker Championship. As one of the prestigious Triple Crown events, it holds a significant place in the snooker calendar, despite not being classified as a ranking event.
Currently, the BBC broadcasts The Masters as part of its agreement with World Snooker to showcase the esteemed Triple Crown events. The reigning champion is Judd Trump.
The tournament's inception saw it start as an invitational event featuring the top 10 players. John Spencer emerged as the first-ever champion. Since 1984, the tournament has adhered to a format inviting the top 16 players in the world rankings, with occasional inclusion of two or three wild-card places between 1990 and 2010.
The Masters Snooker Draw
- Judd Trump (ENG) (1) v Kyren Wilson (ENG) (9)
- Mark Williams (WAL) (8) v Ali Carter (ENG) (11)
- Mark Selby (ENG) (5) v Robert Milkins (ENG) (14)
- Mark Allen (NIR) (4) v John Higgins (SCO) (10)
- Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (3) v Ding Junhui (CHN) (12)
- Neil Robertson (AUS) (6) v Barry Hawkins (ENG) (15)
- Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7) v Zhang Anda (CHN) (13)
- Luca Brecel (BEL) (2) v Jack Lisowski (ENG) (16)
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