Masters Snooker 2017 tips: Five featured flutters for first round and beyond

Bottom seed Kyren Wilson beat the Chinese Sensation on home soil in their last encounter, so Ding may be worth taking on once more.

A sweet 7/4 price says Wilson will defeat Ding in their Sunday night fixture.

Higgins to humble Allen again 6-3

Monday sees a tasty Masters tussle between John Higgins, a two-time event winner, and Northern Ireland’s top potter Mark Allen.

These two met in the round of 16 at last year’s UK Championship and earlier in the season during the semis of the China Championship, with Higgins winning both.

Although the Pistol knocked Scottish potter Higgins out of the Masters two years ago, the Wizard of Wishaw looks value to repeat dropping three frames en route to victory here.

Fabulous 5/1 odds say Higgins will run out a 6-3 winner over Allen, as he did in York.

Trump to hold 3-1 lead going into Fu interval

Bristol break builder Judd Trump needs a successful tilt at the Masters to build on the early promise of his career, and his 2017 campaign begins with Marco Fu.

In his last two encounters with the Hong Kong cueman, the Juddernaught has romped into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.

That makes for a tasty 2/1 price on that being the scoreline again after four frames.

Mark Selby to win quarter 4

Rankings topper Mark Selby holds both the UK and World Snooker Championship crowns, so is a serious contender to add another Masters to his honour roll.

In a quarter that contains a first round fixture with Mark Williams and then either Shaun Murphy or Barry Hawkins, the Jester from Leicester should come through with flying colours.

Selby is a worthy 4/5 favourite to emerge from his section of the Masters draw.

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