Trump 7/2 favourite for worlds but Higgins looks value at 16/1

The 2017 World Snooker Championship begin this weekend for a superb fortnight of brilliant baize action.

But the big question is of course – who will win the biggest prize in the game?

The odds suggest Judd Trump is due to come good on all his promise at 7/2.

He is certainly in decent form, having reached world ranking finals in the last two months.

The 27-year-old won the Players Championship in March, and was runner-up at both the Gibraltar and Welsh Opens.

Reigning champion Mark Selby is next in the betting at 4/1, and arrives at the famous Crucible theater in fine form, having won the China Open last time out.

But the skeptics will quickly point out that only Ronnie O’Sullivan has won successive world championships in the last 21 years.

The Rocket is always popular with fans and punters alike, and 5/1 says the game’s most exciting cuesmith wins a sensational sixth world crown.

Those three dominate the betting, with the odds then drifting out to 12/1.

There you will find 2010 champion Neil Robertson and last year’s runner-up Ding Junhui.

But it’s the man at 16/1 who we have one eye on.

Step forward, John Higgins.

The four-time champion is always a contender in Sheffield, and will boast more experience and composure than most over the next two weeks.

Plus, the Scot is in decent form, having won the non-ranking Championship League in February, and made the Scottish Open final in December.

And if seven-time champion Stephen Hendry says that Higgins could win a fifth world crown this year then who are we to argue?

Higgins will begin his campaign against the Pinner Potter, Martin Gould on Monday.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

View all snooker odds at Ladbrokes