The Shenzhen Open, formerly known as Xi'an Grand Prix, heads to the Bao'an Sports Centre and Aaron Ashley thinks China could be celebrating a homegrown champion.
Mark Williams tops the seedings after last season’s success at the Qujiang Sports Complex in Xi'an, where he defeated Shaun Murphy 10-3 in the final, while the inaugural event in 2024 went the way of Kyren Wilson following his 10-8 victory over Judd Trump.
This is the sixth ranking event of the season and the first five each saw a different champion crowned, with the three Chinese events going the way of Trump, Mark Selby and Chang Bingyu.
All of the leading lights are in action but some players have kinder draws than others and that is often key when trying to pick apart a competitive field.
Shenzhen Open Tips Summary
Best Bet - Zhao Xintong to win Shenzhen Open @ 11/4
Alternative Bet - Ding Junhui to win Shenzhen Open @ 14/1
Alternative Bet - Si Jiahui to win Shenzhen Open @ 33/1
Shenzhen Open Prediction
Best Bet: Zhao Xintong to win Shenzhen Open @ 11/4
Zhao Xintong has not had the start to the season he would have hoped for but he likes to perform for his army of Chinese supporters and he was runner-up to Chang Bingyu at the Wuhan Open.
Last season Zhao won the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship to highlight that he brings his A-game to the showpiece events and he looks to have a nice draw to work with in Shenzhen.
Housed in the top half and the second quarter of the draw, he begins against Scott Donaldson before a potential last-32 showdown with Chinese compatriot Pang Junxu.
However, Pang has had a stop-start season and Zhao’s reward for coming through that would be a last-16 clash with Ben Mertens or Jimmy Robertson.
That is a dream scenario for Zhao and by that point he should have played himself into peak shape, which would spell danger for Neil Robertson were they to collide in the quarter-final.
Being in the top half sees Zhao avoid Trump, Selby and Wu Yize until the final and makes his title claims look crystal clear.
Alternative Bet: Ding Junhui to win Shenzhen Open @ 14/1
Ding Junhui paved the way for all the young Chinese players coming through the ranks but he is still capable of operating to a supremely high level.
As motivation wanes, Ding has become less consistent, but he was a semi-finalist at the English Open earlier this month and that run featured a win over former world champion Wilson.
Ding won the International Championship in his homeland two years ago to show the fire still burns inside and he should outclass an out-of-sorts Ricky Walden in his qualifier.
A rematch with Carter, who had his measure in the semi-final of the English Open, would come afterwards but the form could be reversed in China and the fourth quarter of the draw is no bad place to be with Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy the two highest-ranked performers.
Alternative Bet: Si Jiahui to win Shenzhen Open @ 33/1
Daniel Wells has been a semi-finalist in both years of this tournament when staged in Xi'an, which shows surprises can happen, and Si Jiahui is too big a price to ignore.
Si has been a touch disappointing this season but he has finished runner-up in two ranking events and is a former World Championship semi-finalist, suggesting that it may not be long before he gets his turn in a big one.
Key Tournament Stats
Zhao Xintong has won nine of his last 12 matches
Ding Junhui has won six of his last eight matches
Judd Trump has won 15 of his last 19 matches
World number three Neil Robertson has lost three of his last four matches
Second seed Wu Yize has lost five of his last nine matches
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.
