Wuhan Open outright predictions and snooker betting tips: Murphy well positioned to produce some magic

Where to watch the Wuhan Open

Live on Eurosport & discovery+, from 7am Sunday

Best bets for the Wuhan Open

Shaun Murphy
1pt each-way 10-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Si Jiahui
1pt each-way 16-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Wu Yize
0.5pt each-way 33-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Wuhan Open predictions

The second staging of the Wuhan Open sees defending champion Judd Trump top the seedings and, having already claimed the Shanghai Masters and the Saudi Arabia Masters this season, he is unsurprisingly a warm order.

However, Trump has some notable early threats to his supremacy with John Higgins a potential last-16 opponent and home hero Ding Junhui a possible quarter-final rival, suggesting that the Ace in the Pack is worth opposing at cramped odds.

Neil Robertson returned to form with victory at the English Open but the Australian is short enough considering that was his first title since the 2022 Tour Championship.

World champion Kyren Wilson, meanwhile, has landed in one of the toughest quarters alongside Barry Hawkins, Ryan Day and Xiao Guodong.

There is no Mark Allen or Ronnie O’Sullivan, who have withdrawn from the China tournament, while Mark Selby and Luca Brecel both fell victim in qualifying.

That means the field is nowhere near as strong as it may have been and Shaun Murphy could profit from a favourable early draw.

The Magician opens his title tilt against Anthony Hamilton before a likely last-32 clash with Noppon Saengkham, who has lost four of his last five matches.

Ali Carter would be Murphy’s toughest last-16 test but the Captain has suffered defeats to Elliot Slessor, Wu Yize and Bulcsu Revesz in his last three events and is not in peak form.

Therefore, a deep run looks likely for Murphy and the seventh seed has had a decent start to the season, finishing runner-up to Trump in Shanghai and making the last four in Saudi Arabia.

Two Chinese players reached the semi-finals in Wuhan last season and the home crowd could inspire 2023 World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui to a maiden ranking-event title.

It is surely only a matter of time before Si claims some silverware - he was runner-up to Trump at the German Masters last season - and he has a favourable draw with Pang Junxu his toughest test before the quarter-final.

Wu Yize also merits consideration. The 20-year-old produced some sensational snooker in his runner-up effort behind Robertson at last month’s English Open, winning six out of seven frames to force his way back into contention at 8-7.

His late rally wasn’t enough on that occasion but Wu was a semi-finalist in this tournament last season and Allen’s withdrawal has made things easier for him.

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