Northern Ireland Open: snooker predictions, free tips & TV details

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for the Northern Ireland Open from Milton Keynes.

Where to watch

Eurosport and Quest, 10am Monday

Best bets

Mark Allen to win the tournament
1pt each-way 16-1 Generally

Stuart Bingham to win the tournament
1pt each-way 40-1 Ladbrokes, Coral

Tournament preview

A stellar 128-runner field take to the green baize in Milton Keynes for the fifth running of the Northern Ireland Open, the second event in the Home Nations series this season and one in which home hero Mark Allen is fancied to go well.

This £70,000 event is the fifth tournament of the season and the fifth to be staged at the Marshall Arena, where Allen recently tasted success in winning the prestigious Champion Of Champions.

The top players have settled into the venue and tournament protocols well and Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson and Judd Trump are all in Allen's company as winners.

Trump is the defending champion and looking for a third consecutive Northern Ireland Open having twice beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final. They are again drawn in opposite halves, but are opposed with the in-form Allen, who beat both players on his way to victory earlier this month.

The Pistol can take great confidence from his sublime performance in the Champion of Champions, outclassing Neil Robertson in the final, and therefore beating the top three ranked players in the world on his way to winning a first professional title for two years.

He has been handed a very favourable draw in the first quarter, where another clash with Trump could decide who progresses into the semi-finals.

Another player well drawn is 2015 Crucible king and reigning Masters champion Stuart Bingham, who looked in great form on Wednesday in his German Masters qualifier with Eden Sharav.

'Ballrun' Bingham compiled breaks of 138, 115, 60 and 59 on his way to a comfortable 5-1 win and is fancied to cruise through the first few rounds and looks a big player this week at a tasty price.

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