CRUCIBLE 2021 - THE FAVOURITES

As we approach the beginning of another 17 days of snooker action at the Crucible Theatre, it's a time of the year when I usually have my outright favourite to lift the trophy. Doesn't mean I get it right, I nearly always don't - but this year is a little bit different, since I don't think anyone stands out as a clear favourite.

I do have a list of five players that I think are the frontrunners though, and since I don't like to sit on the fence, I'll rank them. Let's go...

1. Judd Trump

Might sound like an obvious choice, but although it's been another fantastic season for Judd, he doesn't seem to play his best snooker at the biggest stage with enough consistency. It's been two years since his World Championship win in 2019 and since he hasn't succeeded in winning another Triple Crown title. His latest disappointment came in the Tour Championship as he suffered a bad first round defeat to Barry Hawkins. 

But it's undeniable that when Judd's game gets going he's still the one playing the best snooker on tour. Also, in this shortlist of 5, there's only one of the other favourites in his half of the draw and they wouldn't meet before the semis. But again, he's under pressure and therefore it's not an obvious choice. I don't think his odds should be much shorter than the others in this list.

2. Ronnie O'Sullivan

The defending World Champion comes to the Crucible this year having had a record-breaking season. But that's not a record he wanted by any means - the first player to lose five ranking finals in one season.

Ronnie's consistency has been great all season, but he struggled in the long matches he played so that is a worrying sign ahead of his chase of a record-equalling seventh Crucible crown.

However, the return of crowd and the higher stakes might be a boost for the most popular player on tour. Ronnie's game has been improving gradually over the season and I'm sure he'll be giving all he has to practice these couple weeks leading to the marathon.

3. John Higgins

I'm not sure if I've ever seen John Higgins playing as good as he did recently. His quartefinal win over Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Masters was the best match I've ever seen him play. He eventually lost that Masters in the final, and he had been knocking on the door a lot (that includes three consectuive World Final defeats in 2017, 2018 and 2019), but that door finally opened when he trashed Ronnie himself in the Players Championship Final in February. Higgins game was simply impenetrable.

However, when you play that well it's impossible to keep up with it at times. Higgins lost to Ronnie in round one of the Tour Championship, in a best of 19. He was still good, he's still my third favourite, but his impenetrable status - that a couple months ago made me sure he'd win the Worlds - is at check.

4. Neil Robertson

UK Champion this season, Robertson seems to be back at his best. His 10-4 win over O'Sullivan in the Tour Championship final was simply described by Ronnie as "the best snooker" he's "ever seen", saying that he simply "could not compete with that" level of play. That compliment from Ronnie must be saying something. 

Plus, out of this shorlist of five, only one of the other contenders could possibly meet him before the semis - it's Judd though. It's Judd and Neil Robertson's record at the Crucible speaks against him. Even though he won it in 2010, he's only reached one semfinal ever since (2014). 

At this point we can describe Neil Robertson as an all-time great who could play well, but never to his full potential at the Crucible.

5. Mark Selby

A three-times winner, Selby is back amongst the favourites to win the World Title. 

I keep saying that last year, if one more of Ronnie's famous hit-and-hope shots in their semifinal had gone Selby's way, I strongly believe he'd manage to beat Kyren Wilson as well and would now be a reigning and four times world champion. What better than that to describe how capable Selby is of winning it all again.

Also, in the current season Mark has managed to bank in a couple of ranking tournaments and is now a confident player again.

Just the draw that doesn't work in his favour really. Could meet Mark Allen in round two, John Higgins or Mark Williams in the quarters, and then if he makes his way through that an old friend by the name of Ronnie could still be on his way for a final spot.

With some strong names potentially coming from the qualifiers (such as Stuart Bingham, Ali Carter and Ryan Day) this draw might get even worse and that's why Selby couldn't make it higher in this list.

Well, that's it then. Later this week but still before the start of the World Championship an updated Snooker Power Ranking will come out. Stay tuned!

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