2025 World Grand Prix snooker betting tips

The World Snooker Tour roadshow moves on to Hong Kong for the 2025 World Grand Prix, which will be played between 4-9 March at the new, state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium.

Only the top 32 players from the one-year ranking list – simply put, those who have earned the most prize money from ranking events this season – were invited to the tournament, meaning we have an elite and relatively in-form field on show in the Far East.

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This is shaping up to be a very special spectacle; it is the first time since 1989 that Hong Kong has hosted a ranking competition. Around 4,000 spectators are expected for finals weekend, which would be a record for a live snooker audience at a ranking event.

Coinciding with the venue change is a huge boost in prize money, with the champion set to pocket £180,000.

Every player from the top 16 of the two-year world rankings – bar Luca Brecel – qualified, although title holder Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn due to medical reasons. 

O’Sullivan has been replaced by Hossein Vafaei in the draw, who was the highest-ranked player to have initially missed the cut.

Early doors, the format is quite short with best-of-seven frame matches for rounds one and two before the match distances lengthen. 

Despite this, the World Grand Prix has a star-studded champions roll of honour – from the 10 stagings to date, the winners have been Judd Trump (x3), Ronnie O’Sullivan (x3), Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.

The favourites: Home comforts for Judd Trump

The tournament favourite is world number one Judd Trump (10/3 Betway), who loves playing in this event. 

He won the inaugural staging in 2015 and has been to the final in four of the last six editions, including the last two.

Trump has residency rights in Hong Kong, and his girlfriend – Maisy Ma, a figure skater and television presenter – is from the city, so he may also thrive playing in front of a ‘home’ crowd. 

With no disrespect to the other entrants, he is likely to be the main star attraction.

Number one seed for the second year running, Trump seems more dialed in for these big-money events this season, having won the Shanghai Masters, Saudi Arabia Masters and the UK Championship, although he hasn’t lifted a trophy since the latter in early December.

‘The ace in the pack’ meets out-of-form number 32 seed Gary Wilson first up, before a potential meeting with either Jack Lisowski or Zhang Anda in the last 16.

Elsewhere in that top quarter are Si Jiahui, Hossein Vafaei, Ding Junhui and Xu Si. Former finalist Ding (16/1 Betway) and Si (28/1 BetMGM) are the other most fancied from that quarter.

World Champion Kyren Wilson (15/2 BetMGM) is the second-favourite for the title. 

But he’s in a devilish bottom quarter of the draw that features five players who have either won or been in the final of a ranking event in recent months, and Ali Carter, who has just appeared in back-to-back semi-finals.

Wilson had a red-hot start to 2025, reaching the first three finals on the professional tour, although he exited fairly early during his last two outings in Llandudno and Yushan.

John Higgins (11/1 BetMGM) – who ended a four-year wait for a ranking title at last week’s World Open – could meet Wilson in the last 16, but he needs to navigate Carter first.

Masters Champion Shaun Murphy is also in this section.

The two Marks – Selby (8/1 Betway) and Allen (11/1 BetMGM) - are third and fourth favourites, although they would face each other in round two if they pass their opening assignments. 

Also in their quarter is Mark Williams (18/1 Betway), who has had an inconsistent season but is still capable of those magic moments as he showed when winning the Champions of Champions in November.

FIRST’s top tip for the 2025 World Grand Prix – Judd Trump

I think Trump will feel inspired competing here on ‘home’ soil, and he made a habit during the first half of the season lifting trophies at events such as this. 

He is rightfully the favourite to land a record fourth World Grand Prix title.

Judd Trump is 10/3 with BetMGM to win in Hong Kong

Murphy ready to strike

I just can’t ignore Shaun Murphy’s current form and confidence. 

He made a plethora of big breaks in Yushan last week, including his second 147 of 2025, and it took a ridiculous performance from Joe O’Connor to defeat him in the quarters.

Shaun Murphy is 12/1 with Betway to win his second World Grand Prix title

The value contenders: Robertson ready for a run

The draw in Hong Kong is stacked, but the most open section is the third quarter, with world number 16 Xiao Guodong (16/1 Betway) and world number 19 Neil Robertson the two highest-ranked cueists there.

Robertson did not play in China last week, so he could be fresh here. Despite winning the English Open earlier this season, I’m still not convinced he is back to his absolute best, but 14/1 feels like a decent run considering his placement in the draw.

Staying in this quarter, Elliot Slessor has also caught my eye and is 8/1 (Betway) to win the section.

Slessor is one of the pro tour’s most improved players over the past 24 months. He has gained real baize maturity and is on an upward trajectory, now being in the world’s top 32.

He is a long shot for the title at 80/1, but the four-time ranking event semi-finalist does know how to go deep at events, and he is not afraid of taking on the big names – as an example, he has defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan on multiple occasions.

First up for Slessor is Lei Peifan, who has won just one match since his shock Scottish Open triumph in December. 

FIRST’s value pick – Neil Robertson

Neil Robertson has won several ranking event titles in Asia and is a former World Grand Prix champion. 

He is the favourite to win his quarter and may be better prepared for the coming days, having not played last week in China.

Neil Robertson to win the 2025 World Grand Prix is 14/1 with Betway

Slessor’s big breakthrough?

The strength and depth of the professional snooker tour these days is so strong, and we are seeing this all the time with players ranked much lower than Slessor getting to the business end of events. 

Worth an each-way punt with his draw?

Elliot Slessor is 80/1 with Betway to win the 2025 World Grand Prix

Odds correct at the time of writing.