Northern Ireland Open outright predictions and snooker betting tips: World champion can capitalise on generous draw

Where to watch the Northern Ireland Open

Live on Eurosport & Discovery+, from 10am Sunday

Best bets for the Northern Ireland Open

Kyren Wilson
1pt each-way 8-1 general

Jack Lisowski
0.5pt each-way 33-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Northern Ireland Open predictions

The Northern Ireland Open has become a bit of a Judd Trump benefit tournament, with the world number one claiming last season’s title to make it four wins in the last six years.

Trump seems to go deep in the vast majority of ranking events and he will have his eyes set on a successful title defence in Belfast following victories in the Shanghai Masters and Saudi Arabia Masters.

However, Trump is priced accordingly at 3-1, especially when you consider that also housed alongside him in the top half of the draw is the returning Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins and Si Jiahui.

That makes the place of interest the bottom half of the draw, where Mark Allen will be hoping home advantage can inspire him to a third Northern Ireland Open success following victories in 2021 and 2022.

However, world champion Kyren Wilson has an easier draw than the County Antrim cueman and the Warrior has already shown this season that he has not been weighed down by expectation with his victory over Trump in the Xi'an Grand Prix final.

Wilson should make light work of first-round rival David Grace before a potential last-32 clash with Stephen Maguire or Anthony McGill, both of whom often struggle for consistency.

Ryan Day or Jak Jones, Wilson's Crucible final victim last season, may well prove the selection's toughest test in the last 16, while Mark Williams, Ali Carter or Chris Wakelin look the only obvious quarter-final dangers.

At bigger odds, a chance can be taken on Jack Lisowski, despite the fact that he may have to face Neil Robertson and Allen before even reaching the last eight.

Robertson has struggled since winning the English Open - he lost 5-1 to Jackson Page in his Wuhan Open opener last time out - while Allen withdrew from that event and his well-being is taken on trust.

Six-time ranking-event runner-up Lisowski has long been talked up as a champion-in-waiting and he was a semi-finalist in Belfast last season. 

Jackpot made the last eight in the Wuhan Open last time out, making a total of six centuries in his four wins, and is clearly starting to peak.

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