Snooker World Open outright predictions and betting tips: Selby's winning run could continue

Where to watch the World Open 

Live on Eurosport and Discovery, from 6am Sunday

Best bets for the World Open

Mark Selby
1pt 11-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Barry Hawkins
0.5pt 18-1 general

Snooker World Open predictions

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson are among a list of high-profile absentees from the World Open and world number one Judd Trump is 3-1 to make it a hat-trick of victories in Yushan after his 10-4 demolition of home favourite Ding Junhui in last season’s final.

Trump has already claimed three titles this season, the most lucrative of which came at the UK Championship in December, but market rivals Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby may be in better nick at present.

Reigning world champion Wilson has to be feared having clinched his third piece of silverware of the campaign at the German Masters this month, but sticking with Selby may be the approach to take.

The Jester from Leicester had been struggling both on and off the table at the start of the season but wins in back-to-back events at the Championship League and the Welsh Open have seen confidence restored.

The four-time world champion can go on a roll when belief is brimming. He is on an 11-match winning streak and has been handed a generous early draw, so he could certainly do just that.

Selby’s toughest obstacles before a potential semi-final showdown with the Warrior look to be against Xiao Guodong and Gary Wilson, neither of whom look in good enough touch to live with him over the early best-of-nine format.

One player who could be flying under the radar is Barry Hawkins, who is twice a semi-finalist and has had a consistent season bolstered by runner-up efforts to Trump at the UK Championship and Wilson at the German Masters.

The Hawk is in the top half of the draw alongside Trump but he has landed in a soft section where he opens up against Jamie Jones while Ryan Day would be his only potential seeded rival before the quarter-final stage.

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