Although we rarely do much on snooker, in the outright markets the same rules as normal apply. Find a couple of guys at longish odds who, while they might not win, are likely to do well in the first couple of rounds and back-to-lay their championship odds. If we can plot the likely winners at each stage of the draw, there are profits to be made by trading in and trading out before the next round starts.<\/p>\n
Current World Champ Neil Robertson\u2019s opener, against China Open winner Judd Trump, is an interesting one, but it could go either way. However, should Robertson get through that encounter, his path looks much easier after that, so we should expect his price for the title – he\u2019s currently 12.0 to defend his crown – to shorten a fair bit. It\u2019s worth backing him now and laying off after the quarter-finals should he get that far.<\/p>\n
Mark Selby\u2019s another one who looks like he will cruise fairly comfortably through the first couple of rounds. He first plays debutant Jimmy Robertson and not until a potential quarter-final meeting with Ding Junhui does it look like the \u2018Jester from Leicester\u2019 will be tested. Back now at 7.0 on Betfair, lay off then.<\/p>\n
As usual, Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan, who is down to 10th<\/sup> in the rankings and available at 9.0, is too short given his form and state of mind. Lay all day at that price.<\/p>\n I also like the look of Joe Perry to beat \u2018King of the Crucible\u2019 Stephen Hendry in round one at 2.42. Joe has done well in the past here and I think value is with him.<\/p>\n