Dean Etheridge
Mark Allen takes on Mark Selby in what promises to be one of the matches of the 2023 World Snooker Championship. The winner will take his place in the final starting on Sunday. Will it be Mark Allen, or will it be Mark Selby? Here we try to answer that question in our latest snooker betting picks.
- What; 2023 World Snooker Championship, Semi-Final
- Who; Mark Allen (3) vs Mark Selby (2)
- Where; Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England
- Format; Best of 33 Frames (first to 17)
- When; Thursday, April 27th – Saturday, April 29th 2023
Betting to win the 2023 Snooker World Championship
Luca Brecel’s comeback win over Ronnie O’Sullivan on Wednesday shocked the world of snooker and also saw Mark Selby installed as the new favorite to win the title with the best online sportsbooks.
The top sites for snooker betting now make Mark Selby their +110 favorite to win a fifth world title. Behind Selby in the betting is O’Sullivan’s conqueror, Luca Brecel. The Belgian is +300 to win his first ever world title.
Mark Allen is next, with the Northern Irishman at +350 to win what would also be his maiden world crown. The outsider is Si Jiahui, the fearless Chinese qualifier who took down Anthony McGill 13-12 in a late night classic on Wednesday is priced up at +750.
Our snooker odds table below has full betting to win the 2023 World Snooker Championship. The odds are all taken from reputable betting sites. These sites offer a whole range of betting services, including mobile betting. You can read more about betting on your handheld device on our best sports betting apps page.
| 2023 Snooker World Championship Betting |  |  |  |
| Mark Selby | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Luca Brecel | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Mark Allen | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Si Jiahui | +750 | +750 | +750 |
Mark Allen +130
Mark Allen is the number 3 seed, and he is the +130 outsider to win his semi-final against Mark Selby. Both men had difficult and draining quarter-final matches, none more so than Allen.
The Northern Irishman reached the semi-final at the Crucible with a hard fought quarter-final win over qualifier Jak Jones. The 13-10 win over Jones sees Allen reach his first semi-final since 2009, a remarkable stat for a guy of Allen’s ability.
A hard-fought quarter final on the grand stage ⚔️
Congratulations to Mark Allen, and commiserations to Jak Jones after a superb Crucible debut 👏#CazooWorldChampionship | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/RDeAa7OBxo
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 26, 2023
The fact that Allen hasn’t reached this stage of the competition since 2009 shows how he has underachieved in his career.
But finally getting here again is just reward for Allen, who over the past 18 months has made major lifestyle changes. Changes designed to get the most out of his snooker career. A career, which Allen would be the first to admit had been stalling.
The new Mark Allen now seems to be fulfilling his potential. He is the number 3 seed here, and he was given this high seeding for a reason. And that’s because he’s been playing at such a high level.
- 1st Round – Beat Fan Zhengyi (Q) 10-5
- 2nd Round – Beat Stuart Bingham (14) 13-4
- Quarter-Final – Beat Jak Jones (Q) 13-10
Mark Selby -163
After a tight opening day in this quarter-final with John Higgins, Mark Selby put his foot down in the final session, to defeat Higgins 13-7. Make no mistake, the win over John Higgins was a good one.
"He's the man to beat"
Mark Selby gets the better of John Higgins to reach the semi finals 📈@WeAreWST | #CazooWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/DUiprI0R5n
— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 26, 2023
In the previous round, Higgins destroyed the number 7 seed Kyron Wilson 13-2. The Scot was in good form. So this win for Selby should send out a strong message.
Prior to the win over Higgins, Selby hadn’t had the most difficult run. In the 1st Round, he defeated qualifier Matthew Selt 10-8. The win should have been more comfortable. But in the end, Selby saw off some late resistance to take his place in the 2nd Round. There, he overcame the number 15 seed, Gary Wilson with little difficulty.
The two wins prior to the Higgins match didn’t look the most difficult. But this is down to how good Selby is playing, and how easy he made it look. This is why he is the -163 favorite to see off Mark Allen.
- 1st Round – Beat Matthew Selt (Q) 10-8
- 2nd Round – Beat Gary Wilson (15) 13-7
- Quarter-Final – Beat John Higgins (10) 13-7
Our Pick
Both these guys are playing well. As we mentioned earlier, Mark Allen is reaping the rewards of lifestyle changes, while Mark Selby has also battled back from his own personal problems.
Both men seem to be either at the top of their games, or somewhere near to it. And there is little to choose between them.
Where there is a gulf of difference is in World Championship experience. Mark Selby is a four-time winner. Mark Allen has never won this title, and this is the first time he has made it to the semi-final since 2009.
We believe this is crucial when it comes to making our betting picks. The World Snooker Championship is a competition like no other on the snooker circuit. It’s a marathon, and Mark Selby knows as well as anybody how to navigate this grueling journey.
We think the four-times winner will call on all of his experience, and we think that will be enough to get past Mark Allen. Our pick to win the second World Snooker Championship semi-final is Mark Selby.
