World Snooker Championship Odds & Betting Favourites

In this post, we take a look at the World Snooker Championship odds and preview the chances of the top contenders for the title.

The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most coveted prize in snooker, as well as the most lucrative with total prize money in 2023 of £2,395,000, including £500,000 for the winner.

First held in 1927 and won by Joe Davis, the World Snooker Championship is the most prized title of them all in snooker. It is one of the three triple crown events along with the UK Championship and Masters.

The reigning champion is Luca Brecel who defeated Mark Selby 18–15 in the final of the previous year's event.

World Snooker Championship Odds

When is the World Snooker Championship?

The World Championship takes place from April 20 – May 6th at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

World Snooker Championship TV Channel

You can watch the World Snooker Championship on both BBC and Eurosport.

Format

The 16 top-ranked players in the world will be joined by the 16 players that come through the 128-person qualifiers in the competition's first round.

Tournament Schedule

April 20-25: Round 1

April 25-29: Round 2

April 30-1: Quarter Finals

May 2-4: Semi-Finals

May 5-6: Final

World Snooker Championship Favourites

Ronnie O’Sullivan – World Snooker Championship Favourite

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the current favourite for the 2023/24 World Snooker Cham at odds of 7/4. Those odds imply that he has a 40% chance of winning his 8th World Title.

“The Rocket” remains top of the World Snooker game currently ranked World Number 1 despite making his professional debut back in 1992. He has shown remarkable longevity winning 41+ tournaments and is widely considered one of the greatest (if not the greatest) to pick up a cue.

The 2023/24 snooker season has seen Ronnie play some of the most consistent snooker of his career which is a frightening prospect for potential opponents. While he may not play in every tournament he doesn’t have to because when he plays he more often than not goes far this season he has won The UK Championship, the World Grand Prix, The Shanghai Masters, The Masters and the World Masters of Snooker. Other than that he was runner-up at The Tour Championship and made 2 Quarter-Finals and 1 Semi-Final.

At last year's tournament, Ronnie came unstuck at the Quarter-Final stage against Luca Brecel 10-13 who would go on to win his first World Title. However, his recent form suggests that it’s still Ronnie’s world and the rest of the players are just living in it. He is currently playing Welsh youngster Jackson Page in the first round where he holds a 5-0 lead. The winner will play Barry Hawkins or Ryan Day.

A worthy favourite for the World Championship, although 2/1 is a bit short for my liking.

Judd Trump

Judd Trump is the second favourite for the 2023/24 World Snooker Cham at odds of 11/4. Those odds imply that he has a 26.7% chance of winning his 2nd World Title.

The current World Number 2 is another serial title winner with 32 already to his name since debuting back in 2005 with his World Championship victory in 2019 being the highlight so far, it’s arguable that he has even underperformed at the Crucible Theatre such are his talents on the table.

Judd is having another flying season though in 2023/24 he is a 5-time tour winner with victories in the English Open, Wuhan Open, Northern Ireland Open, German Masters and The World Open. He was also a beaten finalist at the European Masters, World Grand Prix and Champion of Champions with 3 other Quarter-Final appearances and 2 Semi-Final showings.

The Juggernaut was shocked at the first-round last year losing 6-10 to Anthony McGill but didn't let those memories stop him in the first round this year with a comprehensive 10-5 victory to book a second round match-up with Tom Ford

He is a major player and could still be worthy of a punt at 11/4 having been cut from odds of 4/1.

Mark Allen

Third Favourite for the 2023/24 World Snooker Cham is Mark Allen at odds of 13/2. Those odds imply that he has an 13.3% chance of winning his 1st World Title.

The Northern Irishman may boost 16 tournament wins to his name since debuting back in 2005 on the professional tour along with currently being ranked as World Number 3. However, such are his talents on the table that many would argue he has underachieved in the sport so far and should have more titles to his name.

When “The Pistol” gets it right though he can mix it with the best and the 2023/24 snooker season has been very positive for him with victories at the Snooker Shoot-Out, Players Championship and Champion of Champions tournaments. He also has 3 other Semi-Finals and 2 Quarter Final appearances under his belt.

Allen made a final run to the Semi-Final last year before getting knocked out 15-17 against Mark Selby. This year he has been drawn in the “weaker” half of the draw and a first-round match against Robbie Williams where he currently holds an 8/4 lead which if he wins he faces John Higgins or Jamie Jones.

Allen’s talents deserve a World Title, and this might be his best chance yet which has seen his odds cut from 8/1 pre-tournament to 13/2.

Shaun Murphy

Fourth Favourite for the 2023/24 World Snooker Cham is Shaun Murphy at odds of 11/1. Those odds imply that he has a 8.3% chance of winning his 2nd World Title.

The "Magician" is a 16 time tour winner and the Crucible Theatre is where is kicked truly into gear back in 2005 when he won The World Championship becoming only the third qualifier to win the title after Alex Higgins and Terry Griffiths. Since then, he has been runner-up at the World Championship three times, in 2009, 2015, and 2021 and is still ranked World Number 8 today.

Murphy resides in Dublin when away from the table with his wife and family, came into this tournament in mediocre form for his standards despite winning the 2023 Champions League, making the Quarter Final of the World Masters of Snooker and Champion of Champions along with a Semi-Final at the 2024 Masters. However, aside from those results it's largely been early round exits this season.

Last year he was knocked out in the first round 10-9 against Si Jiahui who would get to the Semi-Final before losing to eventual winner Luca Brecel. This year he overcame Lyu Haotian in the first round 10-5 to book a mouthwatering second round match against bitter rival Stephen Maguire.

Kyren Wilson

Kyren Wilson is the fifth favourite for the 2023/24 World Snooker Cham at odds of 12/1. Those odds imply that he has an 7.7% chance of winning his first World Title.

"The Warrior" is a 5 time ranking event winner and the current World Number 12 but has been tipped for bigger and better things for awhile now with a certain Ronnie O'Sullivan calling him a "future World Champion" it's no surprise that the proficient break builder (446 centuries" is one of the leading fancies at the event.

However, despite his blindingly obvious talents it's not been the best of seasons for Wilson either with a Quarter-Final appearance at the European Masters and World Open along with a German Masters Semi-Final being as good as gets for the talented player.

He is a former finalist losing 18-8 to O'Sullivan back in 2020, but last year he suffered a 2-13 demolition at the hands of John Higgins. This year is prospects look brighter though with a 10-1 first round win against Dominic Dale and the elimination of Luca Brecel opening up the draw for him.

He is a major contender in my opinion and faces Joe O'Connor for a place in the Quarter-Final.

World Snooker Championships: Past Winners

2023 Luca Brecel

2022 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2021 Mark Selby

2020 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2019 Judd Trump

2018 Mark Williams

2017 Mark Selby

2016 Mark Selby

2015 Stuart Bingham

2014 Mark Selby

2013 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2012 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2011 John Higgins

2010 Neil Robertson

World Snooker Championships: Most Titles

Joe Davis (15)

Fred Davis (8)

John Pulman (8)

Stephen Hendry (7)

Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)

Steve Davis (6)

Ray Reardon (6)

John Higgins (4)

Mark Selby (4)

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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