Two world champions will go head-to-head on Wednesday in round two of the European Masters in Belgium when Neil Robertson takes on Peter Ebdon in what looks to be the pick of the matches. World number eight Robertson has been in decent form so far this season, winning the Hong Kong Masters by beating arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport, Ronnie O’Sullivan, in the final.
The Australian has suffered first-round exits at the Riga Masters and China Championship, suggesting his form is slightly shaky, but he looked assured when successfully negotiating his way past China’s Fang Xiongman in the opening round of the European Masters. Robertson, whose only world title came back in 2010, made breaks of 76, 134, 80 and 100 as he stormed to a 4-0 victory, booking his place in the next stage of the tournament. The 35-year-old, who is 14/1 to win the 2018 World Championship, has now set up a second-round match against Ebdon after the Englishman produced a solid display to whitewash Welshman Dominic Dale on Tuesday. Now sitting 40th in the world rankings, the 2002 world champion only made two breaks over 50 but was more than a match for an opponent who struggled to get going.
Ebdon, whose last title came at the 2012 China Open, has won eight of the 11 previous meetings against Robertson and triumphed in the most recent match at the last-32 stage of the 2016 World Grand Prix. Victory for the experienced Englishman, who is in his 27th season as a professional, would earn him a place in the third round of the tournament and match his best result so far this term.
Snooker odds available at Dafabet.