Snooker World Championship Preview

The Snooker World Championship gets underway Saturday (20th April) here is our guide to how the outright markets are shaping up.

Bookmakers are currently split as to whom to side with as three players (at time of writing) can be backed at 13/2. Ronnie O’Sullivan can be backed at this price with 888 Sport and You Win. After a year out how the Rocket is playing is a mystery to everybody but himself, possibly even himself. Is O’Sullivan probably the finest player to ever play the game? Yes. Is 13/2 value on a player who has not played a competitive frame of Snooker in almost 12 months? No. While a first round tie with Marcus Campbell should hold no problems, a second rounder match with Ali Carter could be tricky not to mention a quarter-final against either Stuart Bingham or John Higgins. Also at 13/2 (Totesport/betfred) is Neil Robertson who always has to be respected. The Australian was a winner in 2010 and went out in the last eight to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2012. He has been solid if unspectacular this year winning the China Open and reaching the finals of the International Championship and The Masters. His draw is not too unkind with Robert Milkins in round one and either Ricky Walden or Michael Holt in round two before a likely last eight battle with Stephen Maguire. Robertson is solid but the prices do not excite. Mark Selby is also available at 13/2 (general) and he is another one who commands respect having won the UK Championship and The Masters this season. His record in the big one though is not great for a player of his talent with just one final and a semi-final defeat. He went out here in the opening round last year and as such his price looks much too short. Judd Trump at 7/1 (general) will also be popular among some but not for me. Trump has gone out in the first round in four of the eight ranking events so far this season and has not won anything of note since the International Championship in late 2012.

If not these four then whom? Mark Allen at 14/1 (sportingbet) is the first selection as the Northern Irishman was a winner of the World Open this year and won well with no player able to get within two frames of him. His ability to play the longer format and his talent for breakbuilding should serve him well. The draw has been a little cruel placing him in the same quarter as Selby and Junhui. Allen and Junhui are expected to meet in the second round in what could be a classic. Junhui though has had a poor year exiting early in seven of the ten ranking events he has competed in this year. His record in the World Championship has also been poor with a first or second round exit in five of six previous appearances. Take Allen at 10/3 (Stan James) win his quarter which looks an even better bet as Selby could be shocked early and Allen could have a nice route through if he can see off Junhui. In addition I am going to side with Stephen Maguire each-way at 16/1 (general) he can be backed at 18/1 (You Win) without the EW option. Maguire has had a decent year winning the Welsh Open and making the semi-finals of the China Open. The Scot also made the last four in the Worlds last year. Maguire has a decent route into the quarter-finals where he will likely face Neil Robertson.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Mark Allen to win the fourth quarter, 10/3 (Stan James)
SILVER: Mark Allen EW to win the World Championship, 14/1 (sportingbet)
BRONZE: Stephen Maguire EW to win the World Championship, 16/1 (general)

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20/04/2013     © Frixo 2024