Neil Robertson v John Higgins: Prediction, Tips and Odds

On Friday, eight-time Masters champion Ronnie O’Sullivan announced he would not be defending his title in this year’s tournament at Alexandra Palace.

His place in the draw for the second major of the snooker season has been taken by two-time Masters champion Neil Robertson, who will face John Higgins in the opening match of this year’s premier invitation-only tournament on Sunday lunchtime.

Robertson has been installed as 15/2 fourth favourite to lift the trophy, behind only Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby, and there’s no doubt that the Australian at his best would be a match for anyone in north London in the coming eight days.

Higgins is a dual Masters winner himself, although the Scot’s triumphs came way back in 1999 and 2006. The Wishaw ace is the first to admit that he has underachieved in this tournament, although he did make the final four years ago when the event was held in Milton Keynes.

In terms of desire, then, it’s perhaps no surprise to see Robertson, Masters hero in 2012 and 2022, made favourite to defeat Higgins. However, there’s a case for thinking that while the Melbourne cueman is happy to be back and on the up again, he may not be operating quite at the level he was before his lengthy lull in form over the last 12 months.

However, while there are question marks surrounding Robertson’s ability to lift the trophy for the third time, he may still be good enough to take victory in his opening Ally Pally outing.

Neil Robertson v John Higgins betting tips and predictions

Neil Robertson to win - 4/6

It’s close in the long history between Neil Robertson and John Higgins. Robertson leads 16-15 and they also drew a Premier League match in 2007.

For the record, Higgins has won three of the pair’s last four meetings, all of which were in the Championship League, an event the Scot likes. And the Wizard has won the last six frames they have contested in that event.

But this is the Masters, the major Higgins enjoys the least, and with Robertson back on the rise, there is a bet to be had backing the Australian to progress to the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace.

Interestingly, the pair’s last two non-Championship League meetings were in the finals of the Tour Championship in 2022 and the English Open in 2021. Both went to a deciding frame with the Thunder from Down Under pipping Higgins in both trophy matches.

Over 1.5 century breaks - 4/6

Robertson didn’t last long in the Scottish Open last month, but he was scoring well in the UK Championship before that and if there is a second bet to be had on his clash with Higgins, it’s to back at least two centuries to be compiled in the match.

For the record, in his three matches in the UK Championship Robertson made runs of 102 in a 6-5 win over Oliver Lines, 136 and 125 in a 6-2 victory over Matthew Stevens and 126 in a 6-3 loss against Judd Trump, who went on to lift the trophy.

And in the International Championship in China in November, Robertson also knocked in a pair of 135s in a victory over Fan Zhengyi, so his game is clearly coming together slowly but surely, while Higgins is playing well enough to contribute to the tally too.

Some punters may be tempted to back Higgins to upset his Australian opponent and possibly turn on the style on Sunday lunchtime. But Higgins has been eliminated in round one in the last two years of this tournament, to Jack Lisowski in 2023 and Mark Allen last year, so the Wizard may struggle to get over the line against a flair player like Robertson.

That said, however, even bets on Robertson to defeat Higgins may be kept modest because aside from winning his second Masters crown in 2022, the Melbourne ace was a first-round loser in the two years preceding that triumph and the two years since it took place.

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Neil Robertson v John Higgins odds

Neil Robertson - 4/6
John Higgins - 6/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.