SNOOKER specialist George Weyham (@GWSnookerTips) shares his best bet from Wednesday’s China Championship action.
Scott Donaldson v John Higgins | Thursday 27th September 2018, 07:30
I stated in my outright preview that I wanted to take on pre-tournament favourite John Higgins in Guangzhou.
Going by his opening two salvos, it’s well worth trying to get the four-time world champion beat. I think he’s vulnerable on Thursday morning against fellow countryman, Scott Donaldson.
Higgins has struggled so far, with a 5-3 win over low-ranked Allan Taylor, then from 4-2 down on Wednesday morning, defeating Mei Xiwen 5-4. Far from convincing and vintage Higgins.
He’s virtually gotten over the line with his great experience and his C/D game – just about getting the W. He will need to raise his game markedly against Donaldson, who is on a roll, not only this week, but this season.
The recent ranking semi-finalist has already taken out Stephen Maguire 5-2, then on Wednesday, form horse Jack Lisowski 5-3 (from 3-2 down).
The level-headed, Perth-based 24-year-old is a tenacious little terrier at the table. He reminds me a lot of fellow Scot, Graeme Dott.
The Lisowski victory was his 13th win of the season. I stated in my preview of that match that he likes doing things the hard way – after that encounter, he’s now been involved in 12 ‘overs bets’ in frames (O5.5 in best of 7s and O7.5 in best of 9s) in his 16 matches.
The likelihood is it will be 13 in 17 on Thursday against the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’. This is a step up in class for Donaldson but the same can be said about Higgins stepping up to Donaldson.
Higgins has been hanging on by a proverbial thread so far, and Donaldson, is capable of cutting it for good on Thursday morning.
I’m surprised Ladbrokes have dangled 3/1 on Donaldson (get it boosted to 31/10 with their daily price increase). I think he should be 5/2 absolute top end for this, the form he’s in and the uncertainty over Higgins’ form.
I’ve been a big fan of Scott Donaldson for a long while. He’s a player on the up in world snooker. Regardless of Thursday’s result, follow this lad. He’s only little but he’s tough, adaptable, underrated and in the form of his life.
Scott has the all round game to beat anyone, especially at the moment. He’s a top 32 player in the making and could have another feather in his cap, with win number 14 here, of an already excellent season, against his idol, John Higgins.
He lost to Higgins in 2016, 4-0. Donaldson has grown up since then. He’s 10 times a better player and I think he’s in with a real shout to make it 1-1 in the head-to-heads, kicking off at 7.30am.
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Scott Donaldson v John Higgins – Scott Donaldson to win (3/1 Ladbrokes)
