In the World Snooker Championship, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump are locked in a fierce competition.
The 2023-2024 snooker season is winding down, with only two ranked tournaments left before the World Championship in April. Despite varying performances, a rivalry between Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48, and Judd Trump, 34, has sparked in recent months.
O'Sullivan and Trump Emerge as Top Choices with Betting Sites
Two performers have shone in numerous matches this season: 7-time World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has clinched five tournaments, including the World Grand Prix, the Masters, and the Riyadh Season World Masters.
Judd Trump, conversely, has taken home four titles, including the English Open, the Wuhan Open, and the German Masters in Berlin in early January.
Ronnie O'Sullivan currently tops the world rankings [Link in English]. This season, he has pocketed £1,075,000 (€1,259,416) in winnings, breaking a new record: no player has ever earned such a significant sum in a single season, with two ranked tournaments and the World Championship still pending.
Judd Trump trails slightly behind in second place with £985,000 (€1,123,977) in earnings.
A glance at the betting odds reveals that bookmakers favor O'Sullivan and Trump to win the World Championship title:
- Ronnie O'Sullivan: 3
- Judd Trump: 4
- Mark Selby: 7
- Mark Allen: 12
- Neil Robertson: 16
Trump Outshone in Riyadh
The Riyadh Season World Masters took place from March 4 to 6. The tournament in Saudi Arabia featured the top 10 players in the world rankings, along with two local wildcards.
Following several high-profile matches, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump faced off in the semifinals, generating excitement among spectators. Both players were in excellent form heading into the contest.
However, Trump struggled and made numerous errors that O'Sullivan took advantage of. In the end, Ronnie O'Sullivan won the match 4-1 and went on to claim the title.
I didn't play well. I felt terrible. I felt uncertain. It was one of my worst performances in a long time. Even when he gave me chances, I knew I couldn't seize them.– Judd Trump, Snooker Player, Eurosport*
In a post-match interview, Trump couldn't explain his poor performance. Despite praising the atmosphere in Riyadh throughout the tournament, he felt uneasy during the matches.
Even O'Sullivan was taken aback by Trump's underperformance, as he had been consistently impressive this season. This was merely the second encounter between O'Sullivan and Trump this season, with O'Sullivan emerging victorious in the World Grand Prix final 10-7.
Which Tournaments Remain before the World Championship?
The snooker season is drawing to a close. The Snooker World Championship is scheduled to begin in less than a month and a half, from April 20 to May 6 in Sheffield, offering numerous betting chances. Prior to that, only two tournaments remain: the World Open and the Tour Championship.
The World Open will feature a 64-player main draw, requiring six victories for the win. This will be a more complex tournament than the shorter invitation-only event in Saudi Arabia.
After the World Open, the Tour Championship takes place from April 1st to 7th in Manchester. The top 12 players in the world rankings will participate, with O’Sullivan and Trump already seeded. As the leader and second in the rankings, both players are automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. The draw suggests they could meet in the semifinals.
Another Face-off in Yushan?
The upcoming ranking tournament in snooker is the World Open, taking place from March 18th to 24th in Yushan, China. A rematch between O’Sullivan and Trump is also a possibility, as the draw suggests they could face off in the final.
O’Sullivan has secured a spot in the event, while Trump will contend in a qualifying match on March 18th. The World Open made a comeback after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last held in 2019.
The current champion is Judd Trump, who defeated Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the final (English video):
Ronnie O’Sullivan missed the tournament in 2019, setting the stage for an exciting matchup. Trump will aim to protect his title, while O’Sullivan will seek to make amends for his premature exit.
In the weeks to come, our news team from OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com will supply extensive coverage of the upcoming snooker tournaments and the World Championship, providing the latest betting odds. We will also keep you up to date on the World Open and monitor the rivalry between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
In the world of online casinos, many German players are showing interest in placing bets on the upcoming snooker tournaments, especially the World Open in Yushan and the World Championship in Sheffield, given the strong performances of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump.
Additionally, the German Masters in Berlin, where Judd Trump emerged victorious earlier this year, has been a popular choice for online casinos in Germany offering snooker betting options.
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