World Snooker Championship predictions: Murphy can land second Crucible success
Aaron Ashley
Zhao Xintong is aiming to become the only first-time winner to successfully defend their title at the Crucible
Nine of the last 10 champions were ranked in the world’s top 16
Eight of the last 10 Crucible winners had made at least a semi-final in one of their previous three tournament appearances
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Zhao Xintong is a strong favourite to overcome the dreaded Crucible curse and become the only first-time champion to successfully defend his World Snooker Championship crown.
Most players struggle to cope with the weight of expectation that comes with being world champion but Zhao has thrived, winning three ranking titles this season at the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship, as well as winning the invitational Riyadh Season Championship.
However, there are a plethora of dangers to the Chinese sensation’s supremacy and there is perhaps better value to be had as he bids to break new ground.
A long, gruelling season can be detrimental in any sport and that perhaps comes at a cost for world number one Judd Trump, who has made only one World Championship final since his breakthrough win in 2019, while seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan has played only seven ranking events this season and may be undercooked.
Meanwhile, 2024 champion Kyren Wilson has yet to go past the quarter-final of a ranking event this season, Neil Robertson has not reached the one-table set-up since 2014 and Mark Selby has a dreaded first-round draw against former runner-up Jak Jones.
Therefore, it could pay to look a little further down the betting and with experience of the Crucible absolutely imperative, two former winners make plenty of appeal.
The latest World Snooker Championship odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Magician may have a trick up his sleeve
Shaun Murphy won his maiden World Championship title as a qualifier in 2005 and although he has not been able to double his tally at the Crucible, he has had a number of near-misses.
The Magician has been runner-up in 2009, 2015 and 2021 and he has made at least the quarter-final on nine occasions, so knows exactly what it takes to prepare for the Crucible.
Murphy has a tendency to blow hot and cold but he has had a consistent campaign, winning the British Open and being a beaten finalist at the Xi'an Grand Prix and the German Masters.
A first-round showdown with Fan Zhengyi should pose few problems while he would be strongly fancied to come through a last-16 duel with Xiao Guodong or Zhou Yuelong.
Defending champion Zhao could await in the quarter-final but Murphy tends to save his best for the World Championship and the crowd favourite is more than capable of pulling off an upset.
Back Shaun Murphy to win and each-way at 20/1 with LiveScore Bet
Welsh wonder bidding to go one place better
Mark Williams proved no match for Zhao in last season’s final as he fell to an 18-12 defeat, but wins over John Higgins and Trump prior to that show what he is capable of.
The Welshman is a three-time world champion, the latest of which came in 2018, but he has made the quarter-final or better in four of the last six seasons and regularly finds peak form when it matters.
Williams claimed the Xi'an Grand Prix in October, so is in winning form this season, and he may have landed in a soft quarter of the draw.
The wily veteran should breeze past tournament debutant Antoni Kowalski in his opener while Barry Hawkins and Kyren Wilson have not been at their best this season, leaving Williams with every chance of making the one-table set-up again.
Back Mark Williams to win and each-way at 33/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest World Snooker Championship odds are available on LiveScore Bet
