bwin Sportsblog - Other Sports - The World Snooker Championships

Very few players successfully defend the world title and this highlights just how difficult it is to win this event once let alone twice. Players like Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis have done it in modern times but reigning champion Neil Robertson was a surprise first round loser this time around. But the standard in snooker is very high now and it got a whole lot higher when the game went open twenty years ago. So who is my tip for this year’s event? Well I didn’t expect Robertson to retain his title but I think that two players have a great chance this year and they are John Higgins and he resurgent Mark Williams. With five world titles between them then they certainly have the experience and the game to do it. It is often difficult to win world titles many years apart but John Higgins has done that and now Mark Williams is trying to do that this season. There will be other contenders of course and Ding Junhui will be a serious threat as will former finalist Mark Selby. This tournament is unlike any other in the calendar with the match length and the best of 33 frame semi-final followed by a best of 35 frame final is a huge test for any player. But ex-champion John Higgins has been playing well since his ban and he has the mental strength to do it for sure and is my tip for this year’s title.