World Snooker Championship outright predictions and snooker betting tips: Selby ready to nail fifth Crucible crown

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Best bets for the World Snooker Championship

Mark Selby to win World Championship
2pts 5-1 general

John Higgins to win third quarter
2pts 2-1 general

Zhao Xintong to win first quarter
1pt 4-1 Hills

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World Snooker Championship outright predictions

Judd Trump heads the market for the World Championship after some impressive displays in the first half of the season, although the world number one and 2019 Crucible hero has seen only modest support from punters following a couple of final defeats to Kyren Wilson this season.

Four-time world champion Mark Selby is second-favourite after his run to the final of the Tour Championship in early April, while Ronnie O’Sullivan is edging defending champion Wilson for third spot in the betting order despite taking a break from snooker since January after struggling with his game in the first half of the season.

Top tip
Mark Selby to win World Championship 5-1

It’s a tough pick between Trump and Selby going into this year’s Crucible marathon but slight preference is for the Jester from Leicester, whose game looked to be coming toward its peak in the Tour Championship recently.

Selby has won titles this season in the British Open in September and Championship League and Welsh Open in February, but his game really looked to be coming to the boil recently in Manchester, where he and John Higgins contested a high-quality final.

After a slow start, Selby fought back and looked the likely winner before Higgins found a second wind to lift the trophy.

But seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was of the opinion that Selby was finding his best touch with the Crucible just around the corner and if the Jester can bring that assuredness to Sheffield, he will be difficult to beat.

Selby has been drawn in the same quarter of the draw as O’Sullivan. But while the Rocket has turned up in the past without playing any snooker and won the world title, the seven-time Crucible king was noticeably struggling with his game in the early months of the campaign.

It will need a significant sea change in form and confidence for O’Sullivan, who turns 50 this year, to rock up in Sheffield and produce the goods.

And while the Rocket is capable of producing his best in Sheffield, that may not be enough to derail Selby should they meet. Selby had O’Sullivan’s number for a long while and that could happen again.

Selby opens against fellow Leicester cueman Ben Woollaston and a victory would see him then meet either Si Jiahui or Dave Gilbert. Handily, Selby enjoys a head-to-head lead over all three players in his eighth of the draw.

The rankings then suggest Selby could meet Wilson in the semi-finals. But while the Warrior has enjoyed a fine campaign, he is unlikely to become the first player to successfully defend a maiden Crucible crown.

Selby’s toughest opponent this season could be Trump, who has been handed a decent draw.

Despite having won the title only once, Trump could sail into the semi-finals and he would be highly likely to nail a final berth too. The Bristolian would be favourite to defeat Selby should they clash in the final, but Trump’s record of slipping up early in Sheffield means he is often a risky betting proposition.

Next best bet
John Higgins to win third quarter 2-1

It would not be a surprise to see Trump run into Higgins in the last four. Higgins is favourite to win the third quarter of the draw and a reproduction of the form the Scot has been showing in recent weeks could see him rubber-stamp the belief of the bookmakers.

Higgins lifted the World Open trophy in Yushan in early March then added the Tour Championship title a month later.

Higgins, who turns 50 next year, has the game to vie for a fifth world crown but the Wizard of Wishaw has not always produced his A-game in Sheffield down the years.

Regarding opponents in his quarter, Higgins has the beating of Xiao Guodong and, in theory, Barry Hawkins. However, there seems to be a feeling that the Hawk could avenge his 10-7 Tour Championship loss to Higgins, while the Scot may also have to dig deep against Joe O’Connor in his opener and evergreen three-time world champion Mark Williams, who won the Champion of Champions event in November.

But Higgins at his best has the beating of anyone in his quarter.

Other selection
Zhao Xintong to win first quarter 4-1

Reigning champion Wilson may have to be on top of his game from the outset. An opener against Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan is followed by a clash between the winner of last year’s losing Crucible finalist Jak Jones and 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong.

Jones has the right temperament for the Crucible but that may not save the Welshman from an early exit when he meets Zhao. The Chinese player was returned to the amateur ranks in the wake of his 20-month ban for being part of a match-fixing ring in his homeland.

But after his enforced absence, Zhao has blitzed a path through the amateur ranks.

Zhao compiled 12 centuries in qualifying for the Crucible this season and that level of scoring could see him wreak havoc in the coming days.

Jones may well be overwhelmed while the other seeds in the top quarter of the draw – Wilson, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen – may also have to give best against Zhao.

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