Two of snooker’s elder statesmen go head-to-head at the World Grand Prix on Tuesday as John Higgins faces Ali Carter. Four-time world champion Higgins, 42, has had a pretty strong season so far as he has claimed the Indian Open title, as well as reaching the semi-finals in three other events – including The Masters.
Higgins clearly isn’t the same player he was when he claimed three World Championship titles in five years up to 2011, but he did reach the final in Sheffield last year and at five in the world rankings is still one of the most dangerous players in the game. Carter’s form has been less impressive as the 38-year-old world number 12 has just one semi-final and one quarter-final on his record for the campaign so far, but he does hold the edge in recent clashes with Higgins.
The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ did win their last clash in China two years ago but Carter leads 4-3 in their last seven match-ups. Prior to that Higgins was thoroughly dominant but the tide seems to have turned since 2013 and at 17/10 ‘The Captain’ looks a good price to cause what would be a minor upset in Preston. Scottish hopeful Higgins is a 4/9 shot to claim the win and can be backed at 4/1 to win 4-3.
Higgins is 8/1 to win the tournament outright and Carter is 66/1, with Ronnie O’Sullivan the 3/1 favourite and The Masters champion Mark Allen priced at 20/1.