• World Championship 2009 - Last 4 Head-to-Head

    The draw for the semi-finals at the Crucible.

    Global-snooker.com uses Cuefacts 2008/09 to help predict the outcome of the semi-final matches in Sheffield.

    And boy, do they look they could produce something special.  Four players at the peak of their form.  Over 100 50-plus breaks and 25 centuries between to get this far, it is the most open world championship in years.

    We have taken two statistical views, looking at the 2008/9 season as a whole and measured the players against each other to see who comes out on top.  We have also compared their performances in this year's world championship to see whether that paints a different story.

    In addition Global-Snooker has looked at the four players still in with a chance and gives our own thoughts on what will happen.  Enjoy!

    Mark Allen 13/8 v 1/2 John Higgins

    Mark Allen is the 'shock' of the tournament - well not really!  If you follow snooker, you will know he has been around for a few years and has been highly rated by many of the top players in the game.  When we interviewed Peter Ebdon in On The Spot earlier this year, he picked him out as one of THE best young players he had ever seen.

    And yet, it always seems to be a 'shock' when one of the promising players delivers.  Well, we are not shocked.  He has loooked the real deal in this event and has done since he beat Ken Doherty on his debut in 2007.

    If he can continue to score like he has done in the first three matches, he will undoubtedly pose a mjor threat to Higgins.

    John is Betred's favourite to win the title after back-to-back final frame escapes against Jamie Cope and Mark Selby.  But that could take its toll.  Mark Allen asked for a 13-12 after beating Ryan Day and he got his wish.  We will see if he can take advantage.  

     
    Season 08/09
    Name Fr Pl Fr % Pts For Av Pts Ag Av HB 50+ 50BR 100+ 100BR
    Mark Allen 202 53.96 53.76 49.16 129 77 2.62 19 10.63
    John Higgins 337 55.19 55.61 46.19 141 135 2.50 23 14.65
    WC 09
    Mark Allen 64 56.25 55.80 46.44 129 27 2.37 8 8.00
    John Higgins 65 55.38 55.11 47.48 141 26 2.50 5 13.00

    Cuefacts Season Predicts - John Higgins
    Cuefacts WC Predicts - Mark Allen

     

    Shaun Murphy 8/11 v 11/10 Neil Robertson

    Betfred and Cuefacts agree that Shaun is the favourite to reach his second world final.

    But...an amazing amount of talent, true Aussie grit and determination and a record towards the end of tournaments that any professional sportsman would envy stands in his way.

    Neil Robertson has played in three finals and won them all.  When he gets to the business end of an event, he seems to have the ability to block out the occasion and raise his game to another level.

    What about Murphy?  He failed to win a match in the first thre events of the season and at one point was looking like falling into obscurity.  A win over the longer distance at the UK Championship turned his season around though, and although it has been mediocre since, he clearly prefers the longer matches.

    Season 08/09
    Name Frames Played Frame % Points for average Points against average Highest break 50+ 50BR 100+ 100BR
    Shaun Murphy 213 55.40 56.69 49.04 137 78 2.73 15 14.20
    Neil Robertson 236 55.93 54.45 49.14 129 82 2.88 13 18.15
    WC 09
    Shaun Murphy 58 62.07 62.69 45.81 137 27 2.15 8 7.25
    Neil Robertson 54 66.67 60.00 42.43 125 22 2.45 4 13.50

    Cuefacts Season Predicts - Shaun Murphy
    Cuefacts WC Predicts - Shaun Murphy 

    Key: The figures quoted relate to each player's performance during the 2008/09 season

    Fr Pl = Frames Played
    FR % = Frame Percentage
    Pts For Average = Scoring Averages (For)
    Pts Ag Average = Scoring Averages (Against)
    HB = Highest Break
    50+ = The total number of 50+ breaks
    50BR= The number of frames per 50+ break
    100+ = The total number of 100+ breaks
    100BR = The number of frames per 100 break

    World Championship Index...

    *Prices quoted - betfred.com - 30 April,2009