WORLD SNOOKER PREVIEW

JOHN HIGGINS is the well-backed 11-2 favourite to win the World Snooker Championship and it's difficult to argue with the bookies.

Paddy Power have been holding firm at 11-2 but Ladbrokes have been forced to cut the Scot to 5-1.

Higgins warmed up for a crack at a fourth Crucible crown by winning the Scottish Championship in Clydebank.

He launches his campaign against Stephen Lee and is 2-7 to beat the Englishman.

Higgins' is expected to face Mark Selby in the Final with the Englishman 6-1 at the likes of Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is as big as 8-1 with various firms but punters have been slow to get behind the Rocket. He should be OK in his opener with Dominic Dale and punters may wade in if he wins convincingly.

Ladbrokes go 7-4 the Rocket is eliminated in the second round, probably by Shaun Murphy.

If you agree with Higgins you have to look at the top half for the other finalist and it could be Ding Junhui, a much improved player who is due a run at The Crucible having never been past the last 16. Ding is a best 17-2 at Blue Square.

I expect Ding to be a semi-finalists and Higgins' probable semi-final opponent is Welshman Mark Williams who is 8-1 with the likes of Hills and Ladbrokes.

Two or more 147 breaks is the best-backed special at Ladbrokes with the 20-1 quote slashed to 10-1. It's 4-6 no one manages the feat with 5-4 for one.

The action starts on Saturday at 10am with defending champ Robertson up against Judd Trump.

Ladbrokes latest outrights: J Higgins – 5/1 M Selby – 6/1 R O'Sullivan – 8/1 D Junhui – 7/1 M Williams – 8/1 N Robertson – 9/1 S Murphy – 14/1 A Carter – 20/1 M Allen – 20/1 S Maguire – 20/1 G Dott – 25/1 J Trump – 33/1 J Cope – 40/1 M Fu – 50/1 66/1 bar.

First round matches:  J Cope – 2/9 A Pagett – 10/3  N Robertson – 1/2 J Trump – 11/8  A Carter – 1/4 D Harold – 3/1  M Williams – 2/5 R Day – 2/1  S Murphy – 1/6 M Campbell – 7/2  D Junhui – 1/7 J Burnett – 9/2  S Hendry – 8/13 J Perry – 5/4  S Maguire – 2/5 B Hawkins – 2/1  R O'Sullivan – 2/9 D Dale – 10/3  P Ebdon – 4/6 S Bingham – 6/5  M Fu – 8/13 M Gould – 5/4  R Walden – 1/2 R McLeod – 13/8  G Dott – 8/15 M King – 6/4  M Allen – 4/6 M Stevens – 6/5  J Higgins – 2/7 S Lee – 11/4  M Selby – 1/12 J Robertson – 13/2.

Recommendations

• Higgins (11-2, Ladbrokes, Hills)
• Graeme Dott to win the first quarter (5-1, various)

First-round accumulator

• Maguire
• Higgins
• Dott
• Williams

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