The UK Championship remains one of snooker’s most prestigious events and the triple crown event is a wide-open betting heat this year.
Judd Trump is the market leader and the Ace was contesting the Champion of Champions final against Mark Allen last week. The Pistol got the better of the Bristol potter in Bolton and those cuemen will be confident of a big run in York.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was a late withdrawal from the Champion of Champions and the Rocket has won the UK Championship on an unprecedented seven occasions. There are unknowns regarding O’Sullivan’s wellbeing but the Chigwell cueman can never be discounted.
- Ronnie O’Sullivan to win UK Championship
- Mark Allen to win UK Championship
Rocket Can Land Eighth UK Title
O’Sullivan is a seven-time UK champion and the brilliance of the Rocket is there for all to see.
The 47-year-old heads to York in search of an incredible eighth UK Championship and the Rocket looks a good bet to land the title.
His appearances have been few and far between this season and the Rocket withdrew from last week’s Champion of Champions. Clearly the absence could be a cause for concern, but it’s not something we haven’t seen before from the Chigwell cueman, and if the Rocket arrives in York it can be taken that he is in good shape.
It’s worth remembering that O’Sullivan won the 2013 World Championship after not playing a single competitive frame in the season leading up to the Sheffield showpiece, and the 47-year-old is a remarkable talent.
The Rocket did make an appearance in the Shanghai Masters in September and the six-time world champion took down that Chinese prize. O’Sullivan reached the semi-finals of the International Championship earlier this month, the quarters of the Wuhan Open in October and performances have been good when we have seen the Rocket in action this season.
Robert Milkins, John Higgins, Neil Robertson are the seeded cuemen in O’Sullivan’s quarter of the draw and that looks a section that the Rocket can progress from.
Antrim Ace Can Last The Pace
Mark Allen has won four titles in the last season and a half of baize battles and the Antrim ace was last seen lifting the Champion of Champions crown in Bolton last week.
The Northern Irishman claimed the Northern Ireland Open and the World Grand Prix last season and the Pistol heads to York as the defending UK champion.
There is a lot to like about Allen’s chances at the Barbican, and a quarter containing Tom Ford, Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson looks ripe for progress.
Trump is the only player on tour who can lay claim to having a better 18 months, but Allen is three times the price of the Ace and the Antrim potter looks the bet.
