UK Snooker Day 9 Tips: Murphy can land second UK title

Shaun Murphy has produced some of his best ever snooker at York

Having both survived scares this week, Mark 'The Jester' Selby and Shaun 'The Magician' Murphy are just one more win away from snooker's second most prestigious ranking title. Paul Krishnamurty gives his verdict on today's final...

Punters are almost evenly split ahead of today's UK Championship final between Mark Selby 1.9420/21 and Shaun Murphy 2.0621/20. Making a confident call in closely matched finals is never straightforward, but on the evidence of their respective performances throughout the week, 2008 champion Murphy has to be the pick for a second title.

Murphy has really impressed with his cueing and long potting all week, appearing very close to the career-best form that landed the world title seven years ago. Granted, that form has been accompanied by it's share of silly mistakes and Shaun very much rode his luck in the last two rounds, but confidence must be at an all-time high after the way he finished against Ali Carter. Murphy's performance in the final session, winning five on the spin from 8-4 down, was one of the finest ever seen.

While maximum respect must be afforded to Selby, who demonstrated immense grinding, matchplay skills to rise from the dead in both the last-16 and quarter-finals, he hasn't produced anywhere near the same level of snooker this week. He may be the new world number one, but Selby is nowhere near his fluent best. Yesterday's comfortable victory over Mark Davis at least represented improvement, albeit aided by a nervous opponent struggling to settle in his first major semi-final. His best chance lies in breaking the game up, as we saw during that incredible second session against Robertson, slowing his opponent down.

In many senses, both players' have performed to type this week. Selby always seems to make hard work for himself, but as his rankiing proves, usually gets the job done. Murphy often looks imperious until the latter stages of tournaments, before throwing in a stinker somewhere. My instinct is that, for once, Murphy got away with his 'bad day' against Luca Brecel and still has momentum.

It is very hard, however, to see a one-sided affair so there could be some merit in backing close correct scores. My recommendation is to back Murphy 10-7, 10-8 and 10-9, along with a saver on Selby to win 10-9.

Recommended Bets

Back Shaun Murphy 4u @ 2.0621/20 

Back Shaun Murphy to win 10-9 1u @ 11.010/1
Back Shaun Murphy to win 10-8 1u @ 11.010/1
Back Shaun Murphy to win 10-7 1u @ 11.010/1
Back Mark Selby to win 10-9 1u @  @ 10.09/1