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Shanghai Masters qualifying. This is the second game I will go for a handicap on Brecel and it is rather similar to the analysis of the game against Nigel Bond: Brecel is the young star with something to prove and O'Brien is the veteran trying to hold on.
Truth be told, O'Brien is a much more dangerous opponent that Bond was. His game is more consistent, lately he is a better break builder, but his potential in this area is still inferior to Brecel at the moment. His long shot is not really impressive but he is capable of great safety play. He rarely wins the frame from one visit at the table and he rarely takes chances.
Brecel has already played two games in these qualifiers so he should be used to the tables and the atmosphere. He defeated Bond 5-2 and David Gilbert 5-3 with a decent game, but not his best. He will need to take it up a level in order beat O'Brien and cover the handicap but I believe he can do it. The Belgian will be the one to take risks and force things so a lot will depend on his long pot but it is likely that even when O'Brien will be at the table, he will give his opponent chances. Same game format, best of 9. My prediction 5-3 Brecel.
Pick: Luca Brecel -1.5 frames
Odds: 2.2
Bookmaker: ➾ Bet365
Stake: 4 units
Tipster: Ares
| TIPSTER: Ares | Total profit: +12.81 | Tips won: 21 |
| Country: Romania | Total yield: +4.78% | Tips lost: 22 |
| Speciality: Snooker | Total picks: 44 | Tips pushed: 1 |
| 12.08 | • ASA Targu Mures - ACS Poli Timisoara | 1.87 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 12.08 | • Dominika Cibulkova - Alize Cornet | 1.57 | 9 | ❌ | -9 |
| 09.08 | • Fergal O'Brien - Luca Brecel | 2.2 | 4 | ❌ | -4 |
| 09.08 | • Steaua Bucuresti - Dinamo Bucuresti | 4.45 | 2 | ❌ | -2 |
| 08.08 | • CSU Craiova - Concordia Chaijna | 2.32 | 4 | ✅ | +5.28 |
| 07.08 | • Luca Brecel - Nigel Bond | 1.8 | 5 | ✅ | +4 |
| 06.08 | • Astra Giurgiu - West Ham United | 1.73 | 10 | ✅ | +7.3 |
| 09.07 | • Garbine Muguruza - Agnieszka Radwanska | 2 | 7 | ❌ | -7 |
| 07.07 | • Bryan B./Bryan M. - Bopanna R./Mergea | 4 | 5 | ✅ | +15 |
| 01.07 | • Fernando Verdasco - Dominic Thiem | 2.73 | 6 | ❌ | -6 |
