SNOOKER: CRUCIBLE LATEST

MARK SELBY was the main mover in the betting with Coral following the first-round draw for the World Snooker Championship.

The 2007 runner-up was given a favourable run and cut to 13-2 from 8-1.

John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan are 11-2 joint favourites with Coral to win.

Spokesman Gary Burton said: “This is the most open championship for many years and although Selby looks to have an easy draw on paper the game is played on green baize and there are no easy ties at The Crucible.”

World Championship outrights (Coral) – 11-2 John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, 13-2
(from 8-1) Mark Selby, 8-1 Neil Robertson, 17-2 Mark Williams, 9-1 Ding Junhui, 18-1 Shaun Murphy, 20-1 Mark Allen, Ali Carter, Stephen Maguire, 25-1 Graeme Dott, 50-1 Marco Fu, Jamie Cope, 66-1 Ryan Day, Stephen Hendry, Martin Gould, 80-1 Peter Ebdon, Matthew Stevens, Judd Trump, Ricky Walden, 100-1 Bar.

Despite a tricky looking draw against Lee, Higgins remains the 5-1 favourite with McBookie.com to lift the title.

The Scot is followed in the betting by O'Sullivan on 11-2. With six Scots making the line-up at The Crucible the firm is offering 3-1 for a Scottish win and 12-1 an all-Scottish final.

McBookie.com spokesman Paul Petrie said: “This looks the strongest line-up Scotland has had in a long time at The Crucible and there is every chance we will be celebrating a Scottish win next month.”

Full draw (action starts April 16): Jamie Cope v Andrew Pagett, Ding Junhui v Jamie Burnett, John Higgins v Stephen Lee, Neil Robertson v Judd Trump, Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens, Ricky Walden v Rory McLeod, Mark Williams v Ryan Day, Stephen Maguire v Barry Hawkins, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Dominic Dale, Shaun Murphy v Marcus Campbell, Graeme Dott v Mark King, Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry, Ali Carter v Dave Harold, Peter Ebdon v Stuart Bingham, Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson, Marco Fu v Martin Gould.

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