Betfred World Championship day three betting preview, news and tips

TV: BBC & Eurosport, from 10am Monday

Mark Selby v Zhao Xintong 10am

Mark Selby, who sets out on his tilt at a fourth world title, may feel like the season has passed him by but the former world number one has shown before that he can be most dangerous when written off.

The Jester from Leicester is up against a seriously talented opponent in Zhao Xintong, but while the Chinese 22-year-old should win a good few frames his inexperience against one of the game’s best ever players is likely to find him out over the best of 19 frames.

There has been support for Zhao, and perhaps that’s not surprising considering Selby’s inconsistency this campaign. But on occasions Selby has shown that the class is still there and he will be giving everything to try to land a fourth Crucible triumph in six years.

Selby is 8-13 to successfully concede a handicap start of 2.5 frames and that may be the way to go.

Recommendation
M Selby -2.5 frames
1pt 8-13 Betfred, Sky Bet

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Ronnie O'Sullivan v James Cahill 2.30pm

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the clear World Championship favourite, but the Rocket may have to be on his mettle for his clash with talented James Cahill, the first amateur to compete at the Crucible.

A great temperament has often helped to save O’Sullivan in times of need on the baize and it’s just possible he may need that against Cahill, one of the best young players in the game.

O’Sullivan leads their personal series 3-0, but Cahill stood up well in all of those outings, going down 6-3, 6-4 and 5-3.

The Rocket is a shrewd cookie and will now how good Cahill is. But the player who has returned to the top of the world rankings turns 44 later this year and this is very much a clash of generations as the Blackpool cueman is just 23.

Cahill posted tons against Michael Holt and Michael Judge in qualifying, but Andrew Higginson felt his armoury most, being on the wrong end of runs of 131, 119, 118 and 100.

O’Sullivan is expected to come through, but Cahill looks worth an interest with a handicap start of 6.5 frames.

Recommendation
J Cahill +6.5 frames
1pt 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

David Gilbert v Joe Perry 7pm

This is a difficult match in which to pick a winner with both players having valid claims to progres to the last 16.

Joe Perry was in dominant form in the qualifiers, dropping just five frames in three matches and finishing off with a 10-3 rout of Martin O’Donnell, who was flying in early-season events.

But it would be remiss to overlook how well David Gilbert has performed this season, and particularly this year. He hammered Ding Junhui in the Coral World Grand Prix and a reproduction of that form could see Perry in trouble.

Backing Gilbert with a handicap start of 1.5 frames is an option, but with both players likely to be fired-up a close encounter looks on the cards.

The best bet may be to back the clash to last for over 15.5 frames, or 16.5 at 10-11 for those who are more convinced about a protracted battle.

Recommendation
Over 15.5 frames
1pt 1-2 Hills

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