2022 Northern Ireland Open Preview Favor O’Sullivan and Robertson

O’Sullivan in ’15 – Image source: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 2022 Northern Ireland Open is held this week, between 16-23 October at the Waterfront Hall, in Belfast. Mark Allen is the defending champion after beating John Higgins in last year’s final. Both of them are among the favorites again just like Judd Trump and Mark Selby. But the 2022 Northern Ireland Open preview mention Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson as the top candidates to win the Alex Higgins trophy.  

This will be the sixth edition of the Northern Ireland Open which is also the first tournament of the Home Nations Series. 64 players take part in the main draw including former event winners Mark King, Mark Williams, and Mark Allen. Plus the most successful player in the tournament’s history, Judd Trump who won three times so far. On all occasions he defeated the world No1 Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final. So the Rocket will surely want to take revenge now if they meet again. But after both of them are in the bottom half of the draw, their match can only take place in the semi-final. While in the top half Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Mark Selby can fight for a place in the final. 

O’Sullivan and Robertson Have Same Odds in the  2022 Northern Ireland Open Preview 

Ronnie O’Sullivan won the last event in the new, 2022/23 snooker season, the 2022 Hong Kong Masters. The seven-time world champion defeated Judd Trump in the World Snooker Championship final. But in this tournament Trump has the better statistics after winning three times against O’Sullivan. Still, the Rocket is one of the top favorites of online sportsbooks in the UK to win the open. In spite of going out in the third round here last year. But the world No1 is in great form again and has the odds of 6.00 to win his first Alex Higgins trophy.  

Same odds are offered for the victory of the world No3, Neil Robertson in the 2022 Northern Ireland Open preview. The Australian was named as the Player of the Season for 2021/22 after winning four tournaments. Including the Masters and the Players Championship. He missed the first three events of the new season. But he won the World Mixed Doubles last month playing along with Thai player Nutcharut Wongharuthai. Robertson hasn’t had such great results from this tournament. For example, he was knocked out in the second round last year. Based on his recent form, he can get a much better result now and win his 24th ranking tournament. 

Previous winners will aim for another title

Judd Trump has been very successful in this event after winning it three times so far. He was playing well last year as well. But Mark Allen eventually beat him in the quarter-final. The world No2 won the 2021 Champion of Champions tournament and the 2022 Turkish Masters last season. Trump started the new season well but he could only reach the quarter-final in the European Masters. While he was defeated by Mark Allen in the third round of the British Open. He can try to win his fourth title in Belfast with an odds of 7.50 to do so. The defending champion, Mark Allen will surely wants to defend his title now. 

With online gambling sites in the UK offering the odds of 13.00 for that. The world No10  reached the final in the 2022 British Open two weeks ago. But he lost there against Welsh player Ryan Day. Now, supported by the Northern Irish fans, Allen can get another great result. The world No4, Mark Selby didn’t perform too well in the previous season. His best result was a semi-final in the World Grand Prix last December. But he started the new season much better after finishing as a runner-up in the World Mixed Doubles. Selby has won in Scotland twice so far, his odds to win in Belfast now are 11.00. The winner of the 2022 European Master, Kyren Wilson has good records in the best-of-seven frames format. And can fight for his sixth ranking title with an odds of 15.00 to get it. 

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