German Masters predictions, snooker betting tips, odds & where to watch

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for the German Masters, which starts in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Starts 9.30am Wednesday, Eurosport & Quest

Best bets

Zhou Yuelong
1pt each-way 18-1 general

Jamie O'Neill
0.5pt each-way 500-1general

Tournament preview

It's back to the Milton Keynes bubble for the German Masters – the governing body World Snooker deserves plenty of credit for keeping the sport primarily in one location during the pandemic – and Zhou Yuelong could land a maiden ranking title victory on the back of compatriot Yan Bingtao's Masters triumph.

The oddsmakers are certainly taking Zhou's chance seriously in a tournament that starts on Wednesday morning and they may be right to do so after seeing the way the Chinese youngster kept his focus to thwart John Higgins in a Championship League group outing earlier this month.

Yan's victories over Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire, Stuart Bingham and Higgins, which saw him claim a first major trophy, should only serve to boost Zhou's confidence this week.

And, while an opener against former world and Masters hero Bingham is obviously likely to be tough, Chengdu-based 22-year-old Zhou has been showing the sort of self-belief of late that suggests he thinks he can beat anyone.

Should he upset Bingham, he would face a winnable clash against Pang Junxu or Robbie Williams. A possible quarter-final meeting with Jack Lisowski could also be tricky, but Zhou defeated the Gloucestershire native in the UK Championship last year and may even be the more progressive of the two on the baize.

Another date with Higgins is possible in the semi-final but the Scot has had a busy start to the year and there was a lot to like about the way last year's European Masters finalist Zhou beat the Wizard of Wishaw in the Championship League.

Judd Trump missed the Masters, along with Lisowski, due to positive Covid-19 tests but he is clearly the one to beat on his return to action. However, the world number one's price is short enough and it may pay instead to find one or two who could put the wind up the Bristolian.

At huge odds, it could be worth a modest bet on Jamie O'Neill. The Northamptonshire resident is a talented performer we have yet to see the best of. He's obviously unlikely to upset Shaun Murphy, who is playing better again after a quiet period, in his opener but could give the Magician more trouble than the betting suggests.

The draw would open up for O'Neill should he pull off a huge first-round upset and given that the outsider has already beaten useful duo Daniel Wells and Zhao Xintong to reach the last 32, his chance should be respected.

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