28th June 2012

Selby vs Cope Betting: Defending champion Selby should be way too good for Jamie Cope

Mark Selby began the defence of his Wuxi Classic title with doubts over a neck injury which dogged him at the end of last season but he showed that his fitness was fine with a win over Barry Hawkins in the first round and he’ll be looking to make the quarter finals when he takes on Jamie Cope on Thursday. The winner of this match will take on Stuart Bingham or Ken Doherty in the quarter finals.

Mark Selby comes into this match as a 2/5 favourite with BetVictor to win this match and he’ll be hoping to replicate the form he showed in his 5-2 win over Barry Hawkins where he knocked in a couple of centuries and looked very good in the balls despite a potential lack of practice in the lead up to the tournament. As well as the two centuries he also knocked in three other half centuries to suggest he’s playing very well.

Jamie Cope struggled for form towards the end of last season so he will have been pleased to get a win under his belt in the first ranking event of this season. Having qualified for the tournament too he has a bit of momentum in his season and he does play well in China. Cope beat Martin Gould in the first round 5-3 and made a couple of half century breaks from 3-3 to run out a winner.

Jamie Cope does play well in China but as long as Selby has had no ill effects with his neck after his first match you would expect the world number one to win this and win it cosily. Jamie Cope’s all or nothing style can leave him wide open against the better players especially when they tie him up in trouble and leaves him having to pot his way out of trouble. Selby’s table craft and good match snooker should be way too good here.

Back M.Selby (-1.5 frames) to beat J.Cope for a 4/10 stake at 1.70 with Boylesports