The 2013 World Open snooker betting could well be wide open after some below par performances from the big guns at the recent Welsh Open. The 2013 World Open starts on February 25th and based on recent performances there could be plenty of value in looking beyond the front runners.
There appears to be a bit of a breakaway of four players from the rest of the snooker world at the moment, with Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson generally leading the way as pre-tournament favourites. Everyone else then falls back behind them. But with Stephen Maguire coming through the pack to win the recent Welsh Open, there could be an open field.
As can be seen from the odds below it is business as usual in the betting markets, however, only Judd Trump went to the semi finals of the Welsh Open, with Selby and Robertson both gone by the close of the second round, with John Higgins going the same way too. So there is any great top form from the big guns at the moment, even though Selby and Robertson would take preference. Selby has been in pretty decent shape but perhaps has been running out of steam a little bit after success at the UK Championship and the Masters in January. As for Neil Robertson, the Australian has been trending very consistently, well up until Newport anyway and looked to be heading towards a title. But he couldn’t capitalize on his form and maybe he has missed his chance after crashing out of the second round of the Welsh Open.
John Higgins has been well below his best, actually losing in qualification for the German Masters and not even making the main draw. So wouldn’t look at the Scot with any kind of confidence at the moment, and not even snooker’s bright young thing Judd Trump has been firing on all cylinders. He did win the International Championship at the start of last November, but had crashed out in the first rounds of the UK Championship and the German Masters following that. His run to the semi’s of the Welsh Open, where he lost to Stephen Maguire, may see him trending in the right direction again though.
Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen is the defending champion of the event, so may attract some interest. But really, he hasn’t been anywhere near threatening to win a tournament for a long time now. Indeed, his last and only major ranking tournament win was the victory twelve months ago at the World Open. Being way out at 12/1 in the market to defend his title, he doesn’t instill a lot of confidence.
If you are looking further down the betting order, then it should probably be at Ding Junhui. China’s star did go to the semi finals of the Welsh Open where he was just edged out by Stuart Bingham, and he will be on home soil in Haikou, China for this one. Aside from that, it was a really understated affair at the Welsh Open from the big guns.
2013 World Open Snooker Betting odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Judd Trump 6/1, John Higgins 7/1, Mark Selby 7/1, Neil Robertson 8/1, Mark Allen 12/1, Ding Junhui 12/1, Shaun Murphy 14/1, Mark Williams 20/1
Online betting site Bet365 offer up to a free £200 bet as a welcome bonus for new customers, as they will match the value of your first stake on a new account. They make a great choice for following your live snooker betting with as well, with a generous amount of new markets opening up while the action is on.
