Annual Snooker Competition in Yushan: Top Betting Picks, Thrill, and a £170,000 Reward
The Snooker World Open is currently underway in Yushan, with the event serving as one of the final tournaments before the Snooker World Championship in April. The contest has observed several upsets, as four of the favorites have already been knocked out. This includes Mark Allen, John Higgins, Luca Brecel, and Ronnie O'Sullivan, who were considered strong contenders with odds of 10, 48, 29, and 48, respectively. The tournament offers a prize pool of 170,000 GBP (approximately 198,982 Euros).
Eliminated Favorites in Yushan
The Snooker World Open in Yushan is an essential ranking tournament before the Snooker World Championship. Many top players were expected to display their top form to prepare for the championship.
Mark Allen, aged 38, shocked fans by losing in the second round to Daniel Wells, 35. Bookmakers had counted Allen as a strong contender for the Yushan title.
John Higgins, 48, also ended his tournament prematurely in the second round, losing to Jackson Page, 22. Higgins had struggled with his performance in the Riyadh Season World Masters in Saudi Arabia, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48.
Yesterday witnessed the elimination of the current Snooker World Champion, Luca Brecel, 29, in the third round. He lost to Stephen Maguire, 43, 1-5.
Source
The first round of the quarterfinals was completed this morning:
- Barry Hawkins – Stephen Maguire: 5-1
- Ronnie O'Sullivan – Hossein Vafei: 4-5
- Judd Trump – David Lilley: 5-3
- Kyren Wilson – Ben Woollaston: 5-4
The elimination of Ronnie O'Sullivan is likely to be unexpected by many fans. Even though his performance had been subpar, he managed to impress with individual moments.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's match against Hossein Vafei, 29, was a close one with numerous opportunities for both players. They alternated winning frames until it was 4-4. Vafei emerged victorious in the final frame and advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Open.
Prospects for Trump and O'Sullivan at the Snooker World Championship
The 2023 snooker season is still dominated by the rivalry between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump, 34, despite O'Sullivan's early exit from the World Open. Both players have won five and four titles each, making them heavy favorites for the Snooker World Championship.
Sports betting odds for the Snooker World Championship
- Ronnie O'Sullivan: 3.5
- Judd Trump: 4
- Mark Selby: 6
- Mark Allen: 12
- Neil Robertson: 14
O'Sullivan delivered a less-than-impressive performance in the current tournament. He managed to defeat Michael White, 32, 5-3 and Lyu Haotian, 26, 5-2.
O'Sullivan seemed to have struggled with precision hits, missing some shots and creating opportunities for his opponents. His loss against Hossein Vafei in today's fourth round came as a surprise.
Judd Trump, however, exhibited a consistent performance from the start. In the qualifiers, he defeated Rory Thor, 35, 5-2 and scored two century breaks. He then went on to win 5-2 against Sanderson Lam, 30, and 5-3 against Fan Zhengyi, 23, adding another two century breaks.
Just a few minutes ago, Judd Trump also emerged victorious against David Lilley, 48, and advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face Kyren Wilson, 32.**
It's fitting to immerse yourself in the local culture wherever you go. It's challenging, as I focus on snooker most of the time. However, I always try to explore the city as much as possible.– Judd Trump, Snooker Player, Instagram
It seems Judd Trump, the reigning World Open champion, has found his form again after his disappointing result in Riyadh.
Maximum Break by Zak Surety
An exciting moment took place on the tournament's first day: Zak Surety, 32, scored a maximum break. It was his first and only maximum break in his professional snooker career.
During the game against Ding Junhui, 36, Surety was behind 2-4. Ding Junhui was just one frame away from securing a victory. With great focus, Surety managed to pot one ball after another, eventually achieving the perfect break. He joined the elite club of 79 players who have achieved this feat.
However, the win didn't come easily for Surety, who still lost the match 3-5.
Which Players are Favored by the Bookmakers?
The World Open has already produced some unexpected outcomes. Among the most shocking were the early eliminations of Mark Allen and Luca Brecel.**
Source(Paraphrased)
The betting odds for the bookmakers indicate a tight competition for the 198,982 euro prize pool at this tournament:
Sports Betting Odds for the Snooker World Open
- Judd Trump: 2.63 to 1
- Mark Selby: 4.5 to 1
- Barry Hawkins: 6 to 1
- Neil Robertson: 8.5 to 1
- Hossein Vafei: 10 to 1
Energetic atmosphere in Yushan
The World Open is a significant event in China. Just a day prior to the tournament, the players were ritually welcomed and even walked along a red carpet. The passion for the sport is also evident in the Sports Centre in Yushan, where the games are being played. The hall was even constructed specifically for hosting snooker tournaments.
Check out this post on Instagram [A post shared by WST (@worldsnookertour)]
The hall was packed from the initial playing days. The audience welcomed the players with boisterous applause and cheered during the matches. There was also a good turnout for the Women's Snooker World Championship, which took place in Dongguan.
In the audience of the World Open, it appears that a significant number of Ronnie O'Sullivan fans warmly welcomed him with deafening applause in his first game. It was already evident a day before the tournament that 'The Rocket' is an idol in China. The 48-year-old was inducted into the Billiard Hall of Fame in Yushan, which he described as a great honor.
The Snooker World Open has seen unexpected upsets, with several strong contenders, including Mark Allen, John Higgins, Luca Brecel, and Ronnie O'Sullivan, being eliminated early. Fans and bookmakers had considered these players as favorites with odds of 10, 48, 29, and 48, respectively. (Referring back to the fact that these players were favorites as mentioned in the initial text)
The early exit of Ronnie O'Sullivan from the Snooker World Open has surprised many fans. Despite his subpar performance, O'Sullivan managed to impress with individual moments, but his loss against Hossein Vafei in the fourth round was unexpected. (Referring back to the fact that O'Sullivan lost unexpectedly in the fourth round)
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