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This year’s Masters, which gets underway at Wembley on Sunday, appears to be all about the defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan. Having won last year’s title with a cue he he’d had for just two hours, he will attempt to repeat the feat playing with a purple one this year.

O’Sullivan, the tournament’s 11/4 favourite (best priced with Betfred and Paddy Power), has been given the cue to use by his sponsors Premier Inn to promote them – with the hotel chain giving away 147 free rooms should he achieve a maximum break at Wembley. If Boylesports’ “will there be a 147?” market is correct, the free rooms offer should be safe with no currently on offer at just 1/3.

It is, however, hard to overlook O’Sullivan’s chances of success at Wembley. He has won the Masters four times already and in December earmarked the tournament as one of three he wants to win in 2010 along with World Championship and the UK Championship.

Should O’Sullivan overcome his tricky first round tie with Australian Neil Robertson, the current Grand Prix title holder, then he should have little trouble in defeating the winner of the Marco Fu and Peter Ebdon clash with a subsequent semi-final clash likely with Shaun Murphy, who should be too strong for his rivals in the second quarter. At 5/4 to win that quarter of the draw Murphy looks a decent bet with a first round clash with the out of sorts Stephen Hendry followed by a quarter final with either Mark Williams, Rory McLeod or Ali Carter.

Murphy is a free-scoring player and I also recommend backing him to be the post the tournament’s highest break at odds of 9/1 (Boylesports and Sportingbet).

For the overall win market, it is John Higgins who appeals more at 11/2 than O’Sullivan at 11/4. Despite being in the more competitive half of the draw, he gets the vote for victory. Having ended 2009 in sparkling form, he is worthy of support to continue his rich vein of form despite facing the prospect of a tough quarter final with either Mark Selby or Ding Junhui should he get past first round opponent Mark Allen.

In the third quarter of the draw, Stephen Maguire is the general evens priced favourite to come out on top. But I’m taking a chance on Joe Perry causing a shock and defeating first round opponent Ryan Day and then Maguire or his first round opponents Jimmy White or Mark King to set up a potential semi-final date with Higgins. At 11/2 with Betfred, he represents decent value.

In this weekend’s first round clashes, Peter Ebdon looks a decent proposition at 11/8 with Ladbrokes to overcome Marco Fu with a 1.5 frame handicap, while the 4/5 on offer with the same firm for Mark King to defeat Jimmy White with the same 1.5 handicap is also tempting. Elsewhere this weekend, take the 8/13 on offer with various bookmakers for Murphy to win the first frame against Hendry. Higgins is a hot favourite to overcome Mark Allen and Sky Bet’s price of 5/4 for him to be ahead after the first four frames looks too tempting to miss.

BETTRENDS ADVICE

John Higgins – to win the Masters – 11/2 (Various)

Shaun Murphy – to win second quarter of the draw – 5/4 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Coral)

Joe Perry – to win third quarter of the draw – 11/2 (Betfred)

Shaun Murphy – to post the highest break – 9/1 (Boylesports and Sportingbet)

First Round Bets

Peter Ebdon -1.5 – to beat Marco Fu – 11/8 (Ladbrokes)

Mark King -1.5 – to beat Jimmy White – 4/5 (Ladbrokes)

Shaun Murphy – to win frame 1 against Stephen Hendry – 8/13 (Various)

John Higgins – to be ahead after first four frames against Mark Allen – 5/4 (Sky Bet)