Snooker heads to Wales this week, as the Venue Cymru in Llandudno hosts the 2024 BetVictor Welsh Open for the next seven days. With £427,000 on the line and £80,000 of that going to the winner, there’s plenty to play for in what will be the 13th ranking event of the World Snooker Tour season.
News ahead of the Welsh Open is less about who will be taking to the felt, and more about who will be missing. First Judd Trump, winner of last week’s German Masters, pulled out. Then, just this weekend, Ronnie O’Sullivan also withdrew. With two of the best players in the world out of the Welsh Open before the first break, who will step into the void left by these withdrawals?
We break down all the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill and outline the best bets to make on the 2024 Welsh Open this week.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 12th, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
Outright betting odds at bookmaker William Hill have changed drastically since Ronnie O’Sullivan’s withdrawal. The Englishman was a heavy favourite, coming into this tournament off the back of a win at the World Grand Prix a fortnight ago. However, with no O’Sullivan in the field, five-time winner John Higgins now shifts to the top spot with odds of 7.50.
Behind Higgins, world No. 5 Mark Selby is close by on 8.00. Neil Robertson comes in at 10.00 next, before a three-way tie for fifth favourite, with Mark Allen, Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams all on 12.00. Odds to reach the final follow a similar pattern, with Higgins ahead at 5.00, through to Williams, Murphy and Allen on 7.00, joined by Ding Junhui as well.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 12th, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
In the absence of both Trump and O’Sullivan, several players will be licking their lips at the opportunity presented in Wales this week. We say one of the best betting options to make a deep run in Llandudno is Shaun Murphy. Then Englishman has had a real dry patch of late, but still remains at No.6 in the world.
This time last year, however, he was on fire. Murphy won the Players Championship in late February last year, while also making a run all the way to the Welsh Open final. Add to this the fact that the 41-year-old has won this tournament in 2022, and made the final on two occasions, and there’s a robust case for Murphy rekindling his form and putting in another strong performance this week. Back him to make the final at 7.00 for a conservative bet, or go all the way to win the title at for a slightly higher return at 12.00.
