Following the conclusion of the recent European Masters, the snooker season now takes to Manchester for the inaugural Coral English Open. The world’s best cueists are set to take to the baize in this brand new event, including the sport’s most exciting stars Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
As part of the new Home Nations Series, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn announced this latest tournament will join the long-standing Welsh Open and new Irish Open and Scottish Open events.
The eventual winner of the English Open will take home the Steve Davis Trophy, named after now retired snooker legend, while also pocketing a top prize £70k.
With 128 players battling it out from Monday, October 10th until the final on Sunday 16th, in what is sure to be another exciting ranking event on the snooker calendar, we outline English Open snooker tips and cast our eye over the draw.
Selby and Allen star in quarter 1 section
World number one and reigning Crucible king Mark Selby is the leading light in quarter 1. The Jester from Leicester will be aiming add this inaugural event to his earlier second world title, having ousted Ding Junhui in the 2016 final.
Selby enters proceedings as the 9/4 front runner for supremacy in this section of the draw and he faces an opening match-up against Tyneside’s Gary Wilson. The world champion is also second-favourite to become the0first ever winner of this tournament in Manchester.
Challenging the Crucible king in this section is Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, who is 7/2 to prevail in this quarter. The Pistol lost to O’Sullivan in the recent European Masters and is 20/1 to bounce back with success in Event City.
Also in this testing section is Scottish cueist Stephen Maguire (9/1 to win quarter), two-time ranking event winner Barry Hawkins (9/1), Welshman Michael White (20/1) and the Spaceman Dominic Dale (33/1).
The Juddernaut faces stiff competition in this section of the draw though, with vastly experienced Scot John Higgins entering at 3/1 to taste success. Four-time world champion Higgins opens his campaign against Michael Wild, while Trump must first get past a tasty match-up with Ireland’s Ken Doherty.
Veteran Welshman Mark Williams is another quarter 2 contender and is 7/1 to prevail, while compatriot Matthew Stevens (40/1) and Martin Gould (9/1) will also be hoping to come out on top in this section.
This part of the English Open draw also features the legendary Jimmy White. The Whirlwind, a six-time World Championship finalist, is 150/1 outsider to rally to victory in his quarter, while Darling of Dublin potter Doherty is 125/1.
Ding takes to quarter 3 as favourite
China’s snooker superstar Ding Junhui rallied to the Crucible final this year, as he was outdone by Selby, but he is 8/1 to go all the way in Manchester. The 12-time ranking event champion is always a threat and, having proved himself in Sheffield, he is 2/1 favourite for quarter 3 success.
The world number six, who faces Mitchell Mann first, has plenty of dangerous challengers in this section, including the Magician Shaun Murphy (4/1), two-time Crucible finalist Ali Carter (13/2) and circuit veteran Peter Ebdon (33/1).
Belgian prospect Luca Brecel is also a contender and the promising potter is 40/1 to earn victory in this quarter, while former world champion Graeme Dott is 33/1.
Rocket and Robertson feature in quarter 4
All eyes will once again be on the progress of the Rocket O’Sullivan and the sport’s biggest name is 10/3 to add the English Open to his illustrious list of tournament honours in Manchester.
The now 40-year-old is a 6/4 front-runner for quarter 4, but Australian competitor Neil Robertson could have a say on how this section pans out. Melbourne’s 2010 Crucible kingpin enters as the 7/2 closest contender to the Rocket, while 2015 world titlist Stuart Bingham is a shout at 15/2.
Scotland’s Anthony McGill has risen to prominence in recent seasons and he is 11/1 to be the last man standing in this section. Kyren Wilson is another who can spring a surprise and is 14/1 to prevail, while Scottish veteran Alan McManus (40/1) and India’s Aditya Mehta (100/1) will look to impress.
O’Sullivan to oust Trump in final
O’Sullivan looks to have a comfortable path towards the semi-finals in Manchester and could relish this brand new tournament in front of an eager Manchester crowd.
The Rocket will be keen to put on a show and, with Robertson likely to be his toughest test before the final, he may soon become the maiden English Open champion.
It looks set to be a straight shootout between Higgins and Trump for quarter 2 supremacy, but this is the type of event the latter enjoys. The Ace in the Pack always brings excitement to any tournament and he is worth a punt at 7/1, with a potential Selby semi meeting on hand.
Ding is more than capable of dominating quarter 3, while Hawkins has showed in the past he can grind out results. The Hawk is therefore a tempting pick to reign over quarter 1 and is 40/1 to soar all the way.
With this being the inaugural English Open event in front of a hopeful Manchester crowd, all signs are pointing towards another thrilling final showdown between O’Sullivan and Trump. Such a match-up would be a worthy finale, though the Rocket is Coral’s pick to reign supreme in our English Open snooker tips.
