The British Open is snooker's version of the FA Cup with a random draw after each round of matches making for a volatile tournament, and the Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke feels Chinese star Xiao Guodong is one to watch in Cheltenham this week.
Snooker returns to the UK for the first time this season as the Centaur Arena at Cheltenham Racecourse plays host to the British Open from Monday 31st August until Sunday 6th September.
It has already been a busy start to the season with the China swing involving the Shanghai Masters won by Judd Trump, the China Open title lifted by Noppon Saengkham and the Wuhan Open, which concluded on Saturday with a maiden ranking crown for rising star Chang Bingyu as he denied the newly-installed world number one Zhao Xintong 10-7 in the deciding match.
Now the world's elite move to Britain with Shaun Murphy set to defend the British Open title he won a year ago when defeating Anthony McGill in the final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the tournament on Saturday, citing medical reasons, having exited the Wuhan Open at the semi-final stage.
Unlike the majority of snooker's ranking events, the British Open features an FA Cup-style draw after each round, with no seeding in place - making it one of the more unpredictable events on the World Snooker Tour.
British Open Tips Summary
Best Bet – Xiao Guodong to win @ 14/1
Alternative Bet – Jack Lisowski @ 16/1
British Open Prediction
Best Bet: Xiao Guodong to win @ 14/1
The random draw element in Cheltenham makes for major volatility. In round one, Mark Williams faces in-form David Gilbert, John Higgins tackles Hossein Vafaei and Chris Wakelin is up against former world champion Luca Brecel.
The new world number one Zhao Xintong has a tricky opener against Oliver Brown, while world champion Wu Yize takes on fellow Chinese player Liu Hongyu.
Played over a best-of-seven format until the quarter-finals, there is plenty of scope for upsets.
Xiao Guodong arrives in Cheltenham in good nick. The two-time Wuhan Open winner beat Jackson Page, Chris Wakelin and Mark Williams in his homeland last week before going out in the semi-finals against Xintong.
He was a semi-finalist here in 2023, losing to Selby. His poor record at the World Championship – where he has won just three matches at the Crucible despite turning pro back in 2007 - suggests the shorter format matches serve him best.
Guodong climbed as high as eighth in the rankings last season and now sits just outside the top 10 in 11th. He faces 21-year-old compatriot Jiang Jun in the first round and will expect to come through.
The Chongqing Cyberman is a player to be avoided in the random draw and he will fear no one.
Alternative Bet: Jack Lisowski @ 16/1
Victory in the Northern Ireland Open last season finally ensured Jack Lisowski shed the tag of being snooker's nearly-man.
Jackpot had lost all six previous ranking finals but came out best in a deciding frame as he edged his good friend Judd Trump 9-8 in Belfast.
He would also reach a Welsh Open final last season, where he was beaten 9-5 by Barry Hawkins, but the campaign ended on a sour note as Lisowski fell in the World Championship qualifiers against China's Guoqiang He and failed to reach the Crucible for the second year in a row.
With a ranking title on his CV, this feels like a big season for Lisowski, now 35, as he needs to bring his best stuff on a much more consistent basis.
He won a Championship League group in July and lost out 6-5 to John Higgins in the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters. He's had some time off since having failed to make the final stages at the China Open and in Wuhan last week.
He opens against Mitchell Mann, ranked just inside the top 100, and Lisowski could get a deep run going at what amounts to a home event for him having grown up in nearby Churchdown, especially if the draws are kind to him.
Key Tournament Stats
- The British Open was re-added to the snooker circuit in 2021 having not been played from 2004 onwards. It is the first ranking event of the season to be played in the UK and has been held in Cheltenham since 2023
- There is a random draw after each round, with no seeded players throughout the tournament
- Since it returned, Mark Williams (2021 & 2023), Ryan Day (2022), Mark Selby (2024) and Shaun Murphy (2025) have lifted the title
- Jack Lisowski won his first ranking title last season, taking the Northern Ireland Open, and is ranked 16th in the world
- Xiao Guodong has won the Wuhan Open twice and is ranked 11th in the world
- Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of the British Open on Saturday citing medical reasons
Read more snooker betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
