Betfair Official Blog

Northern Ireland Snooker Trophy betting and odds

The best snooker players in the world will be on view in Belfast for the Northern Ireland Trophy between November 4-11.

The tournament has been played twice before with Matthew Stevens landing the odds in 2005 and Ding Junhui rewarding punters who bet on him in 2006.

All the big names will be in the betting, with Chinaman Ding looking to repeat last year's success when he defied the odds to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.

A bet on Dominic Dale will have already paid dividends this season with his victory at the Shanghai Masters and he is a good bet to move past a qualifier in round one before a possible clash with Ryan Day in the second round.

O'Sullivan is always popular in the betting and he faces a potential quarter-final clash with Scot John Higgins, with the match sure to attract a lot of betting.

The defending champion faces a possible tricky third round clash with Stephen Maguire, who can beat anybody at attractive odds on his day, while veteran Steve Davis, who has just turned, will be a popular bet to beat Joe Swail in the second round, should the two players make it that far.

Steven Hendry has been a friend in the betting for years and is still hungry for titles and has a bye to round two where Stevens will be waiting if he beats a qualifier in round one.

The 38-year-old has rewarded those who have bet on him at varying odds time and again in the past and maybe he has one more big title left in him this season.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy, who won at Sheffield at huge odds in 2005, faces a potential match-up with Anthony Hamilton in round two, and he could clash with Hendry in round three.

Betting on the tournament is becoming more and more popular and the big names will want to lay down a marker for the season ahead at the Waterfront Hall.