More top quality snooker action will be on its way at the back end of February through to March 3rd, as the 2013 World Open takes centre stage. This is the Haikou World Open, held in Haikou China and is one of of the ranking events in the 2012/13 calendar. Only three world ranking tournaments for the season will come after this one, so the time is running out for players to get big wins on the board. In 2012 the tournament was first held in Haikou, the first time that it had been hosted outside of the UK. It was Mark Allen who went all the way twelve months ago, thrashing Stephen Lee in the final 10-1. Following the shake up in snooker where the big names have to come through qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw, this one is on the old format where the seeded players make the main draw automatically.
Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, the defending champion, has been far from his best during the 2012/13 season, and his only major ranking tournament win was the victory he picked up here last last year. He really hasn’t been registering any results of note and that will keep him back in the pecking order, with him being a general 12/1 across the board to go and defend his title. But naturally there will be stronger options in the field for 2013 World Open snooker betting options and again all focus will turn firmly towards the big four in the world at the moment, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, John Higgins and Neil Robertson.
It is probably worth starting with three time Masters winner Mark Selby, who reached the semi finals of the 2011 World Open, losing to Mark Allen. Along with winning the UK Championship in 2012, he picked up another Masters title at the beginning of 2013, showing some good form. However, he was well below his best as he crashed out of the Welsh Open in the first round in mid February to Joe Perry, without registering a frame on the board. In many ways the Welsh Open was a strange event, with no John Higgins and both Mark Selby and Neil Robertson bombing in the first round, so it’s hard to judge how it will influence the outcome of the World Open. But for starters, both Selby and Robertson will have plenty of reason to regather themselves and make a better fist of things at the 2012 World Open. Selby’s run to the semi finals here last season was his best performance at the event, while Neil Robertson is a previous winner of the tournament.
Australian Robertson is probably the best pick of the top four at the moment in world snooker, because of his track record at the World Open, which is second to none. Robertson has taken the title three times, in the 2006/07, the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons. So he clearly has an affinity with the event and will at least be well rested after crashing at the Welsh Open. Prior to that, Robertson had been in some fine form with good tournaments at the International Champions, the UK Champions and the German Masters. He was showing superb consistency and looking as if he was trending towards at title. His last ranking victory came at the 2010/11 World Open so this could well be the stage on which he gets back to winning ways. With little to choose between the main four, he represents a very good option.
Scotland’s John Higgins reached the quarter finals in 2012 and he has looked far from a title recently. He failed to make it through the qualifying round at the German Masters and only made it to the second round at the UK Championship. Just looking a little short of his best and perhaps the odds on him to take the 2013 World Open snooker title are a little flattering. So to Judd Trump who must be chomping at the bit to get back to winnings ways after seeing Mark Selby come back into form over the second half of the season. Suddenly Trump does look as if he is ready to dominate as much as he looked primed to do. Was a second round casualty in the 2012 World Open. His last ranking win was at the International Championship in 2012 and he followed that up with some lows. Still he is regarded as the brightest young talent on the circuit and he will continue to go into tournaments as one of the leading favourites.
Snooker Betting Odds
Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, the defending champion, has been far from his best during the 2012/13 season, and his only major ranking tournament win was the victory he picked up here last last year. He really hasn’t been registering any results of note and that will keep him back in the pecking order, with him being a general 12/1 across the board to go and defend his title. But naturally there will be stronger options in the field for 2013 World Open snooker betting options and again all focus will turn firmly towards the big four in the world at the moment, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, John Higgins and Neil Robertson.
It is probably worth starting with three time Masters winner Mark Selby, who reached the semi finals of the 2011 World Open, losing to Mark Allen. Along with winning the UK Championship in 2012, he picked up another Masters title at the beginning of 2013, showing some good form. However, he was well below his best as he crashed out of the Welsh Open in the first round in mid February to Joe Perry, without registering a frame on the board. In many ways the Welsh Open was a strange event, with no John Higgins and both Mark Selby and Neil Robertson bombing in the first round, so it’s hard to judge how it will influence the outcome of the World Open. But for starters, both Selby and Robertson will have plenty of reason to regather themselves and make a better fist of things at the 2012 World Open. Selby’s run to the semi finals here last season was his best performance at the event, while Neil Robertson is a previous winner of the tournament.
Australian Robertson is probably the best pick of the top four at the moment in world snooker, because of his track record at the World Open, which is second to none. Robertson has taken the title three times, in the 2006/07, the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons. So he clearly has an affinity with the event and will at least be well rested after crashing at the Welsh Open. Prior to that, Robertson had been in some fine form with good tournaments at the International Champions, the UK Champions and the German Masters. He was showing superb consistency and looking as if he was trending towards at title. His last ranking victory came at the 2010/11 World Open so this could well be the stage on which he gets back to winning ways. With little to choose between the main four, he represents a very good option.
Scotland’s John Higgins reached the quarter finals in 2012 and he has looked far from a title recently. He failed to make it through the qualifying round at the German Masters and only made it to the second round at the UK Championship. Just looking a little short of his best and perhaps the odds on him to take the 2013 World Open snooker title are a little flattering. So to Judd Trump who must be chomping at the bit to get back to winnings ways after seeing Mark Selby come back into form over the second half of the season. Suddenly Trump does look as if he is ready to dominate as much as he looked primed to do. Was a second round casualty in the 2012 World Open. His last ranking win was at the International Championship in 2012 and he followed that up with some lows. Still he is regarded as the brightest young talent on the circuit and he will continue to go into tournaments as one of the leading favourites.
Snooker Betting Odds