World Grand Prix Snooker Tips
The move to Hong Kong has given new life to the World Grand Prix and the ranking tournament returns to the Kai Tak Arena for the second time when the action gets underway on Tuesday, February 3.
The top-32 players on the one-year ranking list will contest the opening Players Series event of the campaign, with £180,000 up for grabs for the winner.
Tip 1 – Jack Lisowski to win World Grand Prix each-way @ 33/1
It’s no surprise to see Judd Trump as favourite for the World Grand Prix and the Ace put in an excellent display to win the German Masters on Sunday night.
However, it’s a quick turnaround for the Bristol potter, who will be in action against Yuan Sijun on Wednesday and the draw complicates matters too. Trump is only seeded eighth on the one-year ranking list and that leaves the 36-year-old likely to have to negotiate a path past Mark Allen or Ali Carter and Neil Robertson just to reach the quarter-finals.
Those factors make the 7/2 on offer about Trump look a little skinny and there could be better value elsewhere.
Jack Lisowski had his day in the sun when winning the first ranking event of his career at the Northern Ireland Open in September and it was a welcome return to form for the Gloucester potter.
Jackpot has been slipping down the rankings, but his victory in Belfast confirms the former UK Championship and Masters semi-finalist still has plenty of ability.
Lisowski has happy memories of the World Grand Prix, having reached the final of the 2020 staging of the competition, and this year’s draw looks to have been set up well for the 34-year-old.
A first-round tie against Chang Bingyu is certainly winnable and then it’s a clash against either Wu Yize or Anthony McGill in round two.
Clearly, Yize is a top-level performer, but the Chinese cueman is 11/1 on the outright market, compared to Lisowski’s 33/1, and a potential second-round tie is likely to be a bit closer than those odds suggest.
Mark Williams, who was awful in the recent Masters and German Masters, is the top seed in the section, and that could open the door for Jackpot to strike from quarter two.
The Gloucester potter is a dangerous break-builder when getting on a roll and it would be no surprise if Lisowski punters hit the jackpot in Hong Kong.
Tip 2 – Zhang Anda to win World Grand Prix each-way @ 30/1
Zhang Anda is also housed in the second section of the draw and Mighty Mouse can form a two-pronged attack from quarter two.
The Chinese cueman meets Williams in round one, and if the Welshman performs as he did in the Masters and German Masters last month, Anda is strongly fancied to progress.
A potential second-round tie against Ding Junhui or Barry Hawkins doesn’t rate the most difficult spot for a place in the quarter-finals and the former International Championship king is good enough to progress from his section of the draw.
Mighty Mouse has made two ranking event quarter-finals this season, he started the campaign off a career-high ranking, and the 34-year-old could easily have further progression to come.
Bigger challenges are likely to be presented in the latter rounds of the World Grand Prix, but Anda is capable of going far.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
