After an inspired first session against defending world champion John Higgins, Steve Davis is now 13-8 with Boylesports to complete a fairytale second round success after starting the match a firm 10-1 outsider.
After defeating Mark King 10-9 in the first round, no-one really gave the 'Legend' a prayer against world number one Higgins, hence his quote of 10-1, but after a brilliant first session in which he stormed into a 6-2 lead, there is the real possibility that he could stun the snooker world and pull off the impossible.
Isn't it strange how the passage of time changes opinions – I loathed the Steve 'win at all cost' Davis of the 1980s when he bludgeoned allcomers into submission with tactics, tactics, tactics, but now I find myself cheering on the 50-something hero who seems just happy to be competing on a level footing with today's stars.
It could have been even better for the popular Davis – who entered the Crucible arena to yet another standing ovation – as he had chances to win the fourth frame, but I'm sure he will be pretty happy with a four-frame advantage. I recommended Davis on the handicap at +6.5, at 9-10, and he needs just one more frame to get that bet up, but faithful punters who took the 10s must be thinking they'll be quids in.
Higgins remains a firm favourite at 4-7 with bet365, but just as in his first round, first session against Barry Hawkins, he looked decidedly edgy at times and buckled under the pressure Davis was piling on him, which is a strange thing to say about a player of Higgins' calibre. But as well know, he stormed back to beat Hawkins comfortably, and he may have developed a first session-itis and come out all guns blazing on Friday afternoon.
But as it stands, Davis with a four-frame lead could be a difficult player to peg back especially if he plays as well as he did for the first eight frames of the match – and he even rattled in his first century break of the season and first one at the Crucible for three years.
Mark Allen created history by compiling the first ever 146 break at the Crucible in taking a 5-3 overnight lead against Mark Davis. The Ulsterman found himself 2-0 down before roaring back to take the next five frames, but an 80 from Davis helped him pinch the last which still gives him half a chance.
Allen is as short as 1-25 in places and a best price of 1-14 with bet365 and Stan James, while Davis is 9-1 with totesport. The Irishman should win, but a the odds on offer Davis could represent a little bit of value.
I was really impressed with Martin Gould's performance against Marco Fu earlier in the week when he knocked out the world number eight. Given a bit more exposure, and a climbing of the rankings, that could see him become a really popular player as he's not afraid to go for his shots and he seems to play with no fear.
He is a general 9-2 chance to defeat the Cambridge-based Aussie, who made heavy work of getting past Fergal O"Brien in the first round, and I reckon the 'Pinner Potter' could pose a huge problem for Robertson. Whether he has the game to actually beat him, I'm not so sure. Robertson, the Grand Prix champion, is a class act, but does has his ups and downs and the 11-10 on Gould to win with a 4.5 frame headstart appeals greatly.
As expected, STEPHEN MAGUIRE coasted past portly Stephen Lee to set up a match with former world champion Graeme Dott (of the two, you would expect that title to be bestowed on Maguire). Dott produced some of his best snooker for some time in beating Peter Ebdon 10-5, but I can't see him holding a candle to Maguire, who should be backed at 4-9 with Paddy Power to progress.
