Another top-ranking event for the snooker season rolls into action on Monday. The Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff is hosting the 2020 Welsh Open. This is the twelfth ranking event of the current season. It’s also the final one of the three Home Nations Series.
Heading into action it is Australia’s Neil Robertson who is the one defending his title. Given his recent form, then he should be one of the front runners again in Cardiff.
Welsh Open Snooker Winner Odds 2020*
Judd Trump 7/2
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4/1
Neil Roberton 4/1
Mark Selby 12/1
John Higgins 12/1
Mark Allen 14/1
Shaun Murphy 16/1
Stuart Bingham 22/
Mark Williams 25/1
30/1 bar*
* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47)
Can Neil Robertson defend his title?
Australia’s Neil Roberston has been shifting through the gears recently. He collected the title at the European Masters at the end of January. Then he followed that up with a loss in the final of the German Masters against Judd Trump.
On Sunday Robertson landed himself in his third straight ranking tournament final, where he was up against Graeme Dott for the World Grand Prix title in Cheltenham. Robertson won it.
So he has the current form going and is a 4/1 shot to defend his title* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47). The last player to successfully defend a Welsh Open title was John Higgins in 2011.
Trump heads the market
Judd Trump, who lost the 2017 Welsh Open final to Stuart Bingham, is having a stellar 2019/20 season. At the recent German Masters, he beat Neil Robertson in the final to claim his fourth ranking title of the season.
He bowed out early in the second round of the World Grand Prix, but that shouldn’t deter punters really. Trump looked refreshed after a little break in coming back to action before the successful German Masters campaign.
Trump will be looking for his first Welsh Open title, to add to his Northern Ireland Open Home Nations title. He has won two of the last six Home Nations events.
Is the Rocket primed for success in Cardiff
Ronnie O’Sullivan is a four-time winner of the Welsh Open. The most recent of those titles came for him in 2016 with a 9-5 victory in the final over Neil Roberston. The Rocket took part in his first ranking event of the calendar year at last week’s World Grand Prix.
He narrowly won his first two matches at the event via a deciding frame, but then he bowed out against Scotland’s Graeme Dott. He has yet to secure a ranking title this season, and since his 2016 Welsh Open title, he hasn’t been to the quarter-finals since at the tournament.
Will the 4/1 odds on him to come through the field have massive appeal to punters?* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47)
Can Selby find a return to form
Mark Selby has won two of the three Home Nations events played this season, having banked the English and Scottish Open titles. The Jester from Leicester has had a very good season, having won a couple of ranking titles.
His form has just dropped away in 2020 though, having failed to make an impact at the Masters, the European Masters or the World Grand Prix. He bowed out in the first round of the latter last week. Selby claimed the Welsh Open title back in 2017 and has made at least the quarter-finals in six editions since.
He hasn’t made it past the fourth round in any of the last three editions, however. Still, coming into the Cardiff event at 12/1 then he could still have appeal* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Other Notable Mentions
John Higgins is the all-time leader at the Welsh Open having won the title five times and reached two other finals on top. His most recent title at the event happened in 2018 and there has been two titles for him in the five seasons that the Welsh Open has been played at the Motorpoint Arena.
His current form doesn’t look particularly threatening for a 12/1 quote, but he has tournament history* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Stuart Bingham is another one who has a bit of an affinity with this event. He has been to the three of the last seven Welsh Open finals. That includes two of the last three, which in turn includes his 2017 title success over Trump.
He’s not naturally a player that you would pick out of a big field, but the former World Champion did pull off that shock Masters win in January and would appeal at a 22/1 each-way quote* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Shaun Murphy, after his good performance at the Masters where he reached the semi-finals and a run to the final four at the recent German Masters does show a little bit of form, therefore, the Magician. He has won one ranking title this season. The one thing not going in his favour though is his recent record at the Welsh Open.
Murphy hasn’t made it past the third round in any of his last seven appearances at the tournament. Murphy is as capable as anyone on his day and at 16/1 is priced right* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
First Quarter Winner
Neil Robertson looks to be a bit of a look to win the first quarter at 5/4 odds* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47). There most certainly is not the level of opponent (at least not in current form) that is too likely to trip him up along the way.
Kyren Wilson, who is struggling for form and the unpredictably Ding Junhui at 5/1 and 7/1 respectively don’t offer enough* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Second Quarter Winner
Will this be the two-horse race that on paper it could be? It is Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby who are the star attractions in the second quarter, which of course, could mean a big semi-final showdown against defending champion Roberston.
Anyway, O’Sullivan is at 5/4 to claim the second quarter but there is much more appeal in backing Selby because of his form in Home Nations events this season, to get it at 7/2* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Third Quarter Winner
The third quarter is definitely one that looks as if it is going to be on more of an even keel with plenty of contenders. John Higgins is the 3/1 favourite and he does have a great record at the event* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47). But with a lack of current form, he can be taken on.
Mark Williams is another of the big guns who is lacking current form, so while outsider Yan Bingtao piques some interest, it is Stuart Bingham at 5/1 who isn’t bad value at all* (betting odds taken from William Hill on February 9th, 2020 at 16:47).
Fourth Quarter Winner
Judd Trump has perhaps, the draw on his side at the Welsh Open 2020. He is the 6/5 favourite to win the fourth quarter. Given the form that he has produced this season, it wouldn’t be an unrealistic outcome whatsoever. Behind him, there is Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen but on paper, if form plays out, it should be a win for Trump.
Welsh Open 2020 Prediction
Defending champion Neil Roberston has received a really comfortable draw at the 2020 Welsh Open. Another main contender Judd Trump can’t be unhappy with his quarter either.
Title defences are not all that common in snooker and Roberston, despite his three tournament streak of reaching finals is a hot ticket right now. But it’s going to be tough to keep extending that because he’s getting no downtime.
Trump had an early exit at Cheltenham last week and can bounce back in this one. After missing action the week before the German Masters he looked much better, much sharper and the same may play out here.
So it is the favourite Trump who gets the nod, while the big each-way flutter will fall on Stuart Bingham.
