There are five first round matches on Saturday at the Crucible and
MICHAEL HOLT looks the man to back at 11-8 to send Joe Perry crashing to another early defeat.
Despite history being against 'Hitman' Holt, in that he rarely wins first round matches at the big events, he has been handed a winnable tie against a player who looks to be on his way out of the top-16. Perry may have registered a win in the China Open – against a lacklustre Tony Drago – but he soon bowed out at the next hurdle and his game seems to have more holes in it a rabbit warren and I think he'll lose out to man with something to prove in Holt.
I cannot foresee any problems for defending champion JOHN HIGGINS at 1-6 against Barry Hawkins or MARK ALLEN, who is 1-4 to see off young Tom Ford, but Mark Selby may have his work cut out against Ken Doherty.
Doherty was brilliant in qualifying, thrashing both Jimmy White and Joe Swail and at 11-4 he will have his backers to usurp one of the favourites for the title in Selby. I think Selby will prevail, but it will be close and a couple of bets on a 10-7 (7-1) and a 10-8 (8-1) scoreline may be the way to go.
That just leaves seven-times champion Stephen Hendry, who is only 3-10 to beat Chinese unknown Anda Zhang, who is 10-3 to produce a shock result. Hendry admits he is totally in the dark against his opponent and that could give Zhang a bit of an edge, but really the Scot should have too much class and composure for a player making his Crucible debut.
