Masters: Mark Selby vs Ali Carter Odds, Tips and Prediction

Match Details

1. Date: Monday 13th January 

2. Start time: 7 pm local time

3. Venue: Alexandra Palace, London

4. Last Meeting: 17th January – 2024 World Grand Prix Last 16, Selby won 4-3

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

1. Mark Selby: 4/9 (1.44) – 69.2%

2. Ali Carter: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4% 

3. *Forecast Odds* - Check out 1Win for odds closer to event

Player Career Timeline

Mark Selby

• Ranking Seed: 4
• Masters Champion: 2008, 2010 and 2013

Mark Selby arrives at the Masters playing in solid form after picking up another ranking title to his ever-improving snooker CV at the British Open. He came a whisker away from a second final of the 2024/25 season at the recent Snooker Shoot Out but is still battling away at the top end of the rankings after a difficult few years where he revealed his mental health struggles.

Despite not making the final in over a decade, Selby should never be ruled out of any tournament, especially at a triple crown event. The Jester from Leicester’s achievements are endless, but his mental willpower and perseverance in winning these tournaments put him alongside the greats. 

Last 5 Ranking Tournament Runs:

• 2024 Snooker Shootout – Semi-finalist
• 2024 UK Championship – 1st Round
• 2024 International Championship – 3rd Round
• 2024 Northern Ireland Open – 1st Round
• 2024 British Open – Winner

Last 5 Masters Appearances:

• 2024 – Quarterfinalist
• 2023 – 1st Round
• 2022 – Quarterfinalist
• 2021 – 1st Round
• 2020 – 1st Round

Ali Carter

• Ranking Seed: 12
• Masters Best Result: Finalist – 2020 and 2024

Ali Carter returns to the Masters after reaching the final for the second time in a row, having come up short against Ronnie O’Sullivan. The six-time ranking event winner had four years away from the 16-player invitational but reached a second final after rising back inside the world’s top 16 elite.

With three of his four triple crown event defeats coming up against O’Sullivan, Carter is on the same half and could meet him in the semi-final. He has a challenging draw against Selby, but when the pair met in the first round in 2020, Carter won and had an inspired run to the final. Could the same occur for this edition? 

Carter’s year this season has seen him lose at the first hurdle once, which arrived at the 2024 Northern Ireland Open. However, he ended a near 18-month drought between ranking titles to win the 2024 Championship League despite two defeats to Selby en route.

Last 5 Ranking Tournament Runs:

• 2024 Snooker Shootout – 3rd Round
• 2024 UK Championship – 2nd Round
• 2024 International Championship – 2nd Round
• 2024 Northern Ireland Open – 1st Round
• 2024 Wuhan Open – 3rd Round

Last 5 Masters Appearance Runs:

• 2024 – Finalist
• 2020 – Finalist 
• 2018 – 1st Round
• 2017 – 1st Round
• 2015 – Quarterfinalist

Ali Carter//Getty Images

Value Bets

1. Total Frames – Under 9.5: SportsBoom predicts this matchup will be finished in under 9.5 frames. The last time both played each other in a best-of-11 frames contest was at the same tournament back in 2020. Though that game ended with ten total frames, three of their five most recent meetings saw incontestable victories for Selby.

2. Total Frames Even/Odd – Odd: Previous games relied heavily on the format being shorter games, but four of the last five games ended in an odd number; therefore, a repeat is likely to be on the cards that Monday evening. 

3. Either Player to Win Successive Frames – Mark Selby: When Selby is out in front, it’s hard for players to put themselves back in contention. Selby’s dominant victories against Carter in recent memory mean a strong start inside the first mini-session could be replicated. Therefore, it could be a bridge too far for Carter despite boasting a 100% winning record over Selby in London.