Mark Selby vs Mark Allen Prediction: The battle of the Marks

The Masters snooker tournament is ongoing, and in this quarterfinal clash, Mark Selby will face off against Mark Allen at Alexandra Palace in London. Who emerges victorious in this encounter?

Following his triumph over Robert Milkins in the initial matchup, Mark Selby is determined to maintain his momentum. The match concluded with a convincing 6-1 score, showcasing a flawless performance where Selby secured the first four frames before Robert Milkins could earn a point. Impressively, Mark Selby has excelled in 5 of his last 6 matches, with the lone defeat occurring against Chris Wakelin in a close 2-3 contest. Notably, in this recent run, Selby emerged victorious against Ali Carter, Chris Wakelin, and Gary Wilson.

As Mark Selby seizes another opportunity to extend his successful streak, the Englishman approaches this match with confidence, viewing himself as the favored contender.

Mark Allen enters this match as a surprising underdog, despite his impressive string of victories leading up to this tournament. In the Round of 16 against John Higgins, Mark Allen demonstrated resilience and skill, securing a hard-fought 6-5 win in what proved to be a challenging contest. This victory marks his seventh win in eight matches, with the sole defeat in that span against Jamie Jones. Notably, he triumphed over opponents such as Ben Woollaston, Oliver Brown, Sanderson Lam, Si Jiahui, Yupen Cao, Oliver Lines, and Steven Hallworth.

As he approaches this upcoming matchup, Mark Allen is poised to exhibit discipline, strength, and deliver quality play that will position him for another victory.

The odds seem unfavorably skewed against Mark Allen in this matchup. Despite Mark Selby's impressive performance, I believe this match won't be as straightforward as it appears on paper. Given their recent form leading up to this game and the anticipated level of play from both professionals, I am supporting Mark Allen to cover the spread, with the total points expected to be 'over'.