World Grand Prix predictions and snooker betting tips: Allen to stay hot

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for the the World Grand Prix, which begins on Monday.

Where to watch

ITV4, 7pm Monday

Best bets

Mark Allen
1pt each-way 11-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Hossein Vafaei
0.5pts each-way 66-1 general

Betting offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers and all you need is an account. Sign up here
• Sky Bet are offering new customers multiple free bets when they sign up. Click herefor free bets, money-back specials and BuildABet free bets
• Betfair have lots of offers and money back offers. Sign up for a new account here
• To get free bets from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets and benefit from their daily offers including Scratch Of The Day by clicking here

World Grand Prix preview

The World Grand Prix begins on Monday, fresh on the heels of the Masters which concluded on Sunday evening.

The top 32 in the one-year ranking list will line up in Cheltenham aiming to take the £100,000 first prize. The tournament has not been hosted since 2021, where Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Neil Robertson 10-8 in the final.

That pair, along with Judd Trump, have shared the last five editions of the tournament between them but there may be a new name on the trophy next Sunday.

The seeds are decided by their position in the ranking list over the last 12 months, leading to some of the biggest names in the sport landing in the same section of the draw.

That is particularly true of the second quarter, which features among its eight players Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui and Stuart Bingham.

In contrast with that is the first quarter, with just two members of the current top 16 in that section.

Mark Allen comes into the tournament comfortably the top seed having accrued more than double the points of the next player on the ranking list.

The 36-year-old is in the form of his life after winning the Northern Ireland Open and UK Championship this season, along with reaching the final of the British Open.

A kind draw also sees Allen begin his campaign against David Gilbert before a potential last-16 clash with either of the young pair of Joe O’Connor and Lyu Haotian.

The Northern Irishman should be able to reach the quarter-finals given the form he is in and from there he has shown this season he can get the better of anyone.

At a much bigger price, Hossein Vafaei may be of interest.

The Iranian does face a tough opening match against Judd Trump but the Juddernaut will be coming straight from the Masters final so may not be in the best position for a tricky opening contest.

Vafaei won the Shoot Out last season and reached the quarter-final of this event on his debut.

The Iranian also beat Mark Selby at the Masters so has no qualms about facing the big names and could outrun his odds.

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport