2013 Masters snooker betting will kick off on January 13th, with the top sixteen players looking to get their hands on the famous trophy. Arguably the most coveted and prestigious trophy in the world game, the Masters is a non-ranking event, but the action at the Alexandra Palace in London will see the best compete for the £175,000 prize money on offer for the winner, as well as a place among the illustrious rankings of those who have won it before.
Australia’s Neil Robertson goes into the 2013 edition as the defending champion after beating Shaun Murphy in last year’s final. Going in as the top seed, Robertson has been handed a favourable draw for 2013 Masters snooker betting and he will open against China’s Ding Junhui. Robertson is in the top half of the draw, avoiding a cluttered bottom half where the biggest threats will come from. Robertson, a former World Champion too, looks in pretty good shape for his title defence, after reaching the final of the International Championship and then hitting the quarter finals of the UK Championship. Last year’s title run was the first time that he had been beyond the quarter finals at The Masters. Because of the draw, he’s not a bad option at a price of 7/1 with online bookmaker Sportingbet.
Judd Trump starts the tournament as the outright favourite with the bookmakers, and a strong one at that. Trump is in at 4/1 with online bookmaker Sportingbet in 2013 Masters Snooker betting. The 2011/12 UK Championship winner recently beat Neil Robertson in the final of the International Championship and that was directly after reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters. Trump though crashed badly in his UK Championship title defence, exiting at the first round. But he is the new hot ticket in the game and will be the one to watch out for. What makes the draw for 2013 Masters Snooker betting fascinating, is that he is on a collision course for a semi final clash with Mark Selby.
Selby, the Jester from Leicester, is trading at a price of 7/1 with online bookmaker Sportingbet, and will make a good case for himself. Selby too is in good form, and could be peaking at the right time after winning the UK Championship recently. Selby of course is a two time winner of the Masters, after some famous battles with Ronnie O’Sullivan. He reached the quarter finals last season and has been in three finals of the five Masters events he has entered. Very good value in a tight field.
Also trading at the same price is Scot John Higgins, who goes in the top half of the draw along with Neil Robertson. The two would meet in the semi finals there. It’s been a long time since Higgins won the Masters (back in 2005/06 for the second time in his career). His last title came at the 2012 Shanghai Masters and although perhaps behind the other names mentioned, cannot be written off.
Sadly the action at the Alexandra Palace will not see either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Stephen Hendry in action as they failed to qualify. Can Robertson defend his title, or will the challenges from Selby and Trump be too much?
2013 Masters Snooker Betting odds at online bookmaker Sportingbet
Judd Trump 4/1, Mark Selby 7/1, Neil Robertson 7/1, John Higgins 7/1, Shaun Murphy 10/1, Ding Junhui 12/1, Mark Allen 12/1, Stephen Maguire 16/1, Mark Williams 20/1, Stuart Bingham 20/1
Online bookmaker Sportingbet have a great live in running betting promotion running for the month of January. Just place sinx in-play bets in a single day in the month of January on any market, and the bookie will give you a free bet for the following day, up to the maximum value of £20! So a fantastic live betting promotion, which will take in the 2013 Masters Snooker Betting. Online bookmaker Sportingbet offer a risk free £50 bet for new customers registering an account with them as a welcome bonus.
