George Weyham returns with his latest snooker preview as the Northern Ireland Open takes centre stage in Belfast. With Judd Trump chasing a fifth crown and Mark Selby eyeing a full Home Nations set, George lines up his best bets for the week ahead.
Northern Irish Open
Snooker makes its annual return to Belfast this week for the Northern Ireland Open in the Home Nations series.
George Weyham gives his thoughts and provides betting tips ahead of another week of top-class action.
Northern Ireland Open Snooker Odds
| Winner | Odds |
|---|---|
| Judd Trump | 5/1 |
| Zhao Xintong | 7/1 |
| Mark Selby | 15/2 |
| Shaun Murphy | 8/1 |
| Kyren Wilson | 8/1 |
| Neil Robertson | 10/1 |
*Last updated 18/10/2025 at 13:41*
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Northern Ireland Open Snooker Preview
Trump Looks to Reignite His Spark
There is always a special atmosphere when the snooker returns to Alex Higgins’ country in Belfast and the players in attendance are gunning for his trophy this week for the Northern Ireland Open.
A player who feels at home in these surroundings is a player I’m sure Higgins would have loved to have watched more of before his passing in 2010, Judd Trump.
Famed for his “naughty” brand of snooker, The Ace in the Pack is currently in his biggest slump for a long while. The 30 times ranking event winner collected 19 of those since his World title in 2019 but is without one since his UK Championship triumph last November.
For most players, that’s no big deal but this is a serial winner we are talking about. He used to be able to find a way to win but it’s the polar opposite now. His last four defeats this season have come in deciders.
However, this event has been a phenomenal one for Trump in the last seven years. Three wins on the spin between 2018 to 2020, recapturing the trophy for a fourth time in 2023 then making the final last year. Bar the Covid hit 2020 edition, his victories have come here at the Waterfront.
The bookies are still taking no chances, with him mainly 4/1 to make it five titles here. I just have to pass, though if he is going to spark back to life, it will probably be here.
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Selby to Complete the Home Nations Set?
I dropped a goolie last week in Xi’an going for Mark Selby in the outrights, where he lost his opening match to Mark Davis 5-4. How he lost from 4-3 in front, and 30 up in the eighth frame with a red left, I’ll never know!
A bit of a shocker but that seems to come with Selby’s territory nowadays. He’s far from invincible and capable of losing to most on a given day. Plus, he doesn’t seem to be clicking in China like the old days and has the proverbial Indian sign hanging over him there.
I am more than prepared to draw a line through that recent result. Returning to these shores and the Home Nations series could be just what the doctor ordered for the Jester.
Selby has as good a record as anyone in the Home Nations events and there’s a big incentive this week; the only event out the four he’s yet to conquer is here in Belfast and no doubt he’ll want to get the full set won next Sunday.
He has hit the cross bar a few times previously here, making the semi-final in 2018 and two quarters in 2019 and 2022 though he’s won the English, Scottish and Welsh Opens all twice, with the most recent of those coming in February this year in Llandudno.
Selby is known as a master of the long formats and session snooker, with his formidable record at the World Championship winning that on four occasions however his short format record goes largely unnoticed.
He’s won seven from seven in best-of-7 this season and has a 79% win rate in this format in his career which is astronomical. Only Judd Trump (by 0.07%!) has a better record in best-of-7 yet you are getting double the price on Selby this week at 15/2.
The last positive is Selby hasn’t lost a Home Nations final since 2012, winning five on the spin and overall has won 21 of his last 26 ranking finals.
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Maguire a Value Outsider
My second outright is a bit of a flyer however he’s already won a ranking event this season so it’s surprising to see Stephen Maguire as big as 80/1 to double up for the season in Belfast.
Maguire is a known tinker with cues but has now committed to one instead of trying out different ones per event or even matches.
And it’s paid off winning the first ranker of the season in the Championship league in July and on a given day still has the minerals at the top level. He showed exactly that in the aforementioned Welsh Open in February making the final losing out to Selby. He beat a whole host of quality on route including Mark Williams, Jack Lisowski and Ali Carter.
That run probably wasn’t that big a shock as he had quarter-final appearances at the International Championship beating Trump on the way (ending his 22 match winning streak) and here in Belfast losing to Trump.
He looked to be in fine form out in Xi’an last week knocking in two centuries in his opening win then walked into a 5-0 drilling from Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Maguire has actually tasted victory in this arena before, lifting the Northern Ireland Trophy in 2007, which at the time was his first title since his still only triple crown win at the UK Championship 2004.
Mags opens with Luca Brecel here who withdrew from his match on Friday in qualifying for the Scottish Open. Why the bookies have Brecel at mainly 33/1 and Maguire at 80/1 is a bit baffling to me, so swot that price up whilst you can!
Northern Ireland Open Betting Tips
Mark Selby 15/2 Unibet 1pt
Stephen Maguire 80/1 Ladbrokes/Coral 0.25pt ew
Current 2025 P&L: -12.75pt
