2023 Snooker World Championship Predictions and Odds

By Nick Pappas Published: Apr 04, 2023, Updated: Jul 14, 2023

World Championship, Snooker, Pool, Cazoo

The reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan can surpass the iconic Stephen Hendry in the all-time standings with another title in 2023. Can the Rocket win and make history again?

The 2023 Snooker World Championship betting odds suggest he’s the player to beat! Ronnie will have a challenging run, though, with multiple excellent opponents aiming at the title.

I analyze all top favorites and share my 2023 World Snooker Championship betting predictions in this article. Let’s start with the betting odds.

2023 Snooker World Championship Winner Odds

Ronnie O’Sullivan; +400
Judd Trump; +450
Neil Robertson; +650
Mark Selby; +800
Mark Allen; +1000
Shaun Murphy; +1000

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the favorite according to the 2023 Snooker World Championship odds of the best betting sites online. The reigning champion is slightly ahead of Judd Trump and Neil Robertson, two former champs.

The likes of Mark Selby, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy are next in line, so we have more than enough players to challenge the Rocket.

2023 Snooker World Championship Format

The Snooker World Championship is the longest and most grueling tournament of the year, and you must account for that when working on your predictions.

The competition takes place over two weeks and includes multiple rounds of competition. Endurance, strategy, and consistency are crucial to winning the championship.

The main draw consists of an elimination bracket with various seeding. Here’s the format of every match within every round of the tournament.

First Round – Best of 19 Frames
Second Round – Best of 25 Frames
Quarter-Finals – Best of 25 Frames
Semi-Finals – Best of 33 Frames
Finals – Best of 35 Frames

You must win over 70 frames against world-class opponents to lift the trophy! Only a few players can do it, so let’s focus on the small group that have the potential to go all the way.

2023 Snooker World Championship Top Favorites

The main favorites in the tournament include Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Neil Robertson. These are three championship-caliber players with exceptional achievements.

Robertson, O’Sullivan, and Trump have nine world championships between them. O’Sullivan is the current No. 1 player in the official rankings and the reigning champion, so let’s start with him.

Ronnie O’Sullivan

World Ranking: 1st
World Championships: 7
Age: 47

When betting on the 2023 Snooker World Championship, make sure to consider Ronnie O’Sullivan. His longevity within the sport has been nothing short of spectacular. O’Sullivan also became the oldest world champion in history at 46 years old in 2022.

In terms of weaknesses, there’s not much you can say about O’Sullivan. He’s the only player to exceed 1,000 century breaks in their career, and he continues to extend that record. His long list of accomplishments makes him an icon within the sport.

NOTE:

O’Sullivan has bounced in and out of the world rankings due to personal reasons in the past. However, you can’t deny that he’s a force of nature, and when he’s in peak form, he’s practically unbeatable.

The big task for the Rocket is to find his inner peace and stay calm. If he does, he is the obvious favorite for the title.

Judd Trump

World Ranking: 5th
World Championships: 1
Age: 33

Many believe Judd Trump is the closest player to O’Sullivan in terms of talent and skill level. He’s also won a Triple Crown in his career to go along with more than 900 century breaks in pro competition. Trump is one of just two players to exceed 100 century breaks in a single season.

The 2022-23 season didn’t get off to the best start for Trump. He suffered a few early exits before bouncing back and winning the 2023 Masters. Trump also peaked at the No. 2 overall world ranking during the season.

Can Trump win his first world title since 2015? He finished runner-up in the 2022 championship, and this season, he became only the 11th player to win multiple Masters. If there’s anyone who can compete with O’Sullivan, it’s Trump.

Neil Robertson

World Ranking: 4th
World Championships: 1
Age: 41

Here’s another top favorite in the 2023 Snooker World Championship betting odds. Neil Robertson is a legendary player with myriad accomplishments in his career. He’s also compiled more than 880 century breaks in pro competition.

Robertson opted out of multiple tournaments early on in the season due to personal reasons. However, he’s still at the top of his game, having won the UK Championship as recently as 2020. Robertson also made the semi-finals of the 2023 Champions League.

The Australian has the upside to win, but he needs to be at his best for the entire tournament.

Top Sleepers for the Snooker World Championship

Let’s shift focus and discuss a few underdogs in the tournament. Although it’s rare for a long shot to win the Snooker World Championship, anything could happen. You never know when a major upset will occur.

Jack Lisowski (+2200). Lisowski is well-accomplished in his career, although he’s never won a ranking title. He recently reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship in 2022.
Barry Hawkins (+4000). Hawkins has been in the game for a while now. The veteran player reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. He loves the tournament, so you should always watch out for him in Sheffield.
Joe O’Connor (+5000). O’Connor is still a young player, but he’s improving rapidly. The 27-year-old phenom recently finished runner-up at the 2022 Scottish Open.

All these guys (and several more) could challenge the top contenders if they gather enough momentum early on.

Snooker World Championship 2023 Prediction and Betting Pick

I’m picking O’Sullivan to win with my Snooker World Championship prediction. The Rocket is in peak form and looks unbeatable entering the tournament. He will be eager to make history and loves the long format of the competition.

Robertson and Trump are very talented but haven’t shown the same level of consistency as O’Sullivan. Producing a title-winning performance requires minimal errors and mistakes. If there’s anyone who’s in the best position to succeed, it’s O’Sullivan.