Growth of Snooker and Betting: An Opportunity for Fans
Snooker has grown enormously as a sport over the past two decades, and along with it, betting on this sport has also evolved, becoming a very broad market. With so many snooker tournaments on the circuit, there are betting opportunities almost every week of the year. This has attracted more people to betting, and when you add the extensive TV coverage and variety of betting markets, snooker betting has become very popular among bettors. Instead of waiting for major events, you can now bet weekly, which is very appealing to many.
However, this new calendar also poses an additional challenge for those betting on snooker: player fatigue. When placing your bets, you now need to consider how much a player has played recently, whether they are in shape, or if they need rest. With so many tournaments on the calendar, it’s normal for players to get tired over the season and have ups and downs in their performance. Knowing when it’s the right time to bet is as important as choosing the right player when studying a snooker tournament.
When players are in good form, it’s often worth following them over several consecutive tournaments, especially if these are close in the calendar. This is much more evident now that there are more tournaments, adding a new element when deciding your bets. With proper study, you could find value bets by selecting a player in form facing another who is more fatigued, even if your choice is ranked lower.
Understanding Tournament Rules
With so many different tournaments throughout the year, it’s essential to understand the rules and duration of each before betting. Some tournaments last only a week, with short matches (usually best of seven frames), while others can last more than two weeks with longer matches and intermittent breaks. Some players adapt better to certain formats, which can offer value if you choose wisely.
For example, short-format tournaments are more prone to upsets, as only four frames are needed to win a match. Lower-ranked players are more accustomed to these formats since they often play this type of match in the qualifying rounds. Sometimes, the big stars can be surprised by opponents who start faster.
Alternative Markets
One of the main problems with snooker betting is that the standard market is a head-to-head matchup between two players, which often results in very low odds. However, thanks to the growth of snooker and betting, there are now many alternative markets you can use if you still want to bet on these matches.
Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is common in American sports and others like rugby, where results can be very lopsided. However, this type of bet has also found its place in snooker and is an excellent market I often use to find additional value. Bookmakers create a handicap line to level the playing field between players, making bets more interesting.
This is useful when you believe the favorite will win comfortably. The handicap offers you better odds by adding an additional challenge for the favorite player to cover the handicap.
Example of a Handicap Bet
Imagine Mark Selby is playing a snooker match to 11 frames against a lower-ranked opponent, and bookmakers place him as the clear favorite. To win the match, Selby needs to win six frames. If you believe he will win easily, you can opt for a handicap bet to get better odds.
In this case, the handicap could be -2.5 frames for Selby. This means the opponent starts the match with a fictitious advantage of 2.5 frames. For your bet to win, Selby must win by a margin of 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, or 6-3. If he wins by a smaller margin, or if he loses, your bet will lose.
This type of bet is harder to get right but offers additional value if you trust that Selby will win comfortably. The reward is greater if you decide to take on the additional risk.
Outright Betting (Tournament Winner)
If you want to bet on a player to win a tournament, you should look at the “outright” betting market. You can place this bet before the tournament begins or during the tournament if a player impresses you in the early rounds. This type of bet is ideal for fans who want to stay involved throughout the event, supporting a player in every match they play.
Outright Bets to Reach the Semi-Finals
This is one of my favorite markets in snooker, and I always look for it as a tournament approaches. A snooker tournament bracket is divided into four sections, and the winners of each section will reach the semi-finals. This means that when you bet on a player to reach the semi-finals, you’re actually betting on them to win their section.
This market is interesting because you can assess the bracket and find value if a player has an easier path to the semi-finals. Thus, instead of worrying about the entire bracket, you can focus on the players in that section and evaluate the odds for your player.
Live Betting
Live betting has grown enormously in recent years, and snooker is one of the sports that has been part of this growth. Given the slow pace of the game, it’s ideal for live betting, as you can watch how the match develops before deciding your bet. This allows you to watch a couple of frames and assess the players’ form before making your move.
There are several live markets that are not available before the match begins, such as who will win the next frame or who will win a session in longer tournaments. If a player seems to be gaining confidence or their opponent looks tired, you can take advantage of these signals to bet on a short-term market.
Snooker is perfect for live betting, and you should definitely consider it the next time you’re watching a match.
