Eighteen countries are battling out tonight for a place in the final which takes place on Saturday night.
The first semi-final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Kiev (Ukraine) tonight, with the second semi being held on Thursday night.
Thirty-six countries will battle it out over the two nights in a bid to join the “big five” plus hosts Ukraine in the final on Saturday night. Eighteen acts will perform in the capital later today, but only ten will progress to the final-stage. Two countries have already withdrawn from the competition before a song has been sung with Bosnia and Herzegovina pulling out due to financial reasons whilst Russia have been banned from competing in the host country.
The question is, whose Eurovision dreams will continue through to Saturday night and whose will be cut short tonight? Below we take a look at who the bookmakers and betting public expect to progress from the first semi-final:
Sweden: Given that Sweden are third favourites to win Eurovision for the seventh time in their history it’s pretty safe to think they’ll performing in the final come Saturday. Their entry, Robin Bengtsson’s 14/1 to win the overall competition, which implies a 7.1% chance of winning. This year alone, Sweden have accounted for 5% of bets to win this year’s event through Oddschecker.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/25 (96.2%)
Georgia: Georgia have qualified for the finals in the previous two years, finishing in 11th place in 2016 and 20th last year in Stockholm. The bookies are giving the Eastern European country little chance of qualifying from the first semi-final this time around with their representative, Tako Gachechiladze a 500/1 outsider to win the competition implying a 0.2% chance of winning. Understandably punters have been keeping clear of the country and only 0.5% of bets have been placed on them winning the event.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 5/2 (28.6%)
Australia: Australia finished runners-up in last years contest, and this will be the third year the Aussies have been represented in Eurovision after finishing fifth in 2015. Isaiah Fire’s a 90/1 chance to win the competition implying a 1.1% chance of the title heading down under. Despite their impressive finishes in the previous two years, bettors have kept away, only 1.8% of bets have been placed on the Aussies winning.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/3 (75%)
Albania: You would expect the Albanians not to be too bullish about their chances given they’ve failed to qualify in three of the last four years. Their poor showing has led to the bookmakers pricing them at a massive 750/1 to win the event, implying a slim 0.1% chance of winning. Not even the huge price has attracted bettors, only 0.4% of bets have been placed on them winning Eurovision.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 6/1 (14.3%)
Belgium: Belgium last won Eurovision in 1986 and overall have a decent record in the competition including a 10th place finish last year. Blanche will represent the country in 2017 and despite her odds having been lot shorter only a few weeks ago, she’s now 100/1 to win the competition, implying a 1% chance of winning. Despite the three-figured price, Belgium have been a popular bet accounting for 4.6% of bets placed in the Eurovision winners market.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 4/9 (69.2%)
Montenegro: Montenegro are fairly new to the competition and have failed to qualify for the final in the six of the eight years they’ve entered. Their poor record explains why they’re a 700/1 shot with the huge odds implying a 0.1% chance of winning. Only a measly 0.47% of bets placed on Eurovision have been on Montenegro’s act winning.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 7/1 (12.5%)
Finland: The Finns last won the competition back in 2006 and since then they’ve finished in the top twenty on two occasions. Norma John represents the country this year as they bid to end a run of two years without making it to the final. Finland can be backed to win the competition at 90/1, which implies a 1.1% chance of winning and 2.4% of bets place on the annual event have been on Finland winning.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/4 (80%)
Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan have a fine record at Eurovision, in the nine years they’ve entered they have qualified for the final every year, and won the event in 2011. Despite their form in the competition they’re a massive 60/1 to win this year’s Eurovision, which implies a 1.6% chance. Just over 2.3% of bets placed on the competition have been on Azerbaijan’s entry Dihaj winning.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/10 (90.9%)
Portugal: Portugal have been one of the most popular bets on the whole of Oddschecker this week with their odds to win Eurovision being cut every hour. Their entrant Salvador Sobral is currently 6/1 to win, implying a 14.3% chance. In the year to date, Portugal have accounted for a massive 11.7% of bets on the event.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/20 (95.2%)
Greece: Last year was the first time in 37 efforts that the Greeks have failed to qualify for the finals. The 2005 winners are 150/1 to win the converted award this time round, implying a 0.7% chance of winning. Despite not qualifying last year, 1.7% of bets have been placed on them being victorious at this year’s Eurovision.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/5 (83.3)
Poland: The Polish entry finished 8th last year, which was their highest finishing position since 2003. Kasia Mos will represent the country this year and the act is a massive 300/1 shot to win the competition, implying a 0.3% chance of winning. Poland have accounted for 0.99% of bets placed on the event since the turn of the year.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 5/6 (54.5)
Moldova: Moldova have failed to qualify for the final in the previous three years and their act SunStroke Project will be aiming to end that run tonight. They’re a 200/1 chance to win the event, which implies a 0.5% chance of winning. Their poor recent record will explain why only 0.5% of bets have been placed on them winning the competition.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/3 (75%)
Iceland: Iceland have had a tricky time of late at Eurovision having failed to qualify for the final in their previous two attempts. The 2009 runners-up are 600/1 to win the event this year, implying a 0.2% chance. Some people seem to be optimistic of their chances though, 0.7% of bets placed on the event have been on the Icelandic entrant.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 43/10 (18.9%)
Czech Republic: The Czech’s have only ever qualified for the final once, going on to finish in a lowly 25th place. Miracles aren’t expected this time round with bookies making them a huge 750/1 to win, implying a 0.1% of winning. The Czech Republic entrant has been the second least backed act in the comp, only taking 0.3% of bets.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 12/1 (7.7%)
Cyprus: Cyprus have made the finals on twenty-seven occasions, which includes both of the last Eurovisions. Despite a solid record in the annual event, they’re still 600/1 to win, which implies a 0.2% chance. Cyprus have been poorly supported in the market, they’ve only accounted for 0.4% of bets placed since the new year.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/2 (66.7%)
Armenia: In ten times of trying Armenia have only failed to qualify for the final on one occasion. Last year they finished 7th and with odds of 16/1 they are expected to mount another challenge for a top ten finish this year. Their odds suggest they have 5.9% chance of winning Eurovision. They’ve been well support in the market this year, accounting for 3.4% of bets.
Bookmakers: Qualify Punters: Qualify
Odds of qualifying: 1/25 (96.2%)
Slovenia: The Slovenian entrant failed to qualify last year, which looks a likely result this time round as they’ve been priced at 800/1. Their huge odds suggest they have a slim 0.1% chance of winning the event. It’s no surprise they’ve been poorly supported in the market, only 0.4% of bets have been placed on them winning.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 43/10 (18.9%)
Latvia: The Latvians used to have a shocking time of it at Eurovision, however they’ve made it to the final on the last two occasions. However, a 700/1 price-tag to win the event implies they might struggle to continue their run of finals this year. Their odds suggest they have a 0.1% chance of winning the overall event and just 0.47% of bets placed on the market have been on Latvia winning.
Bookmakers: Fail to qualify Punters: Fail to qualify
Odds of qualifying: 11/8 (42.1%)
Who the bookmakers expect to qualify from the first semi-final: Portugal, Sweden, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Moldova and Poland.
Who the punters are backing to qualify from the first semi-final: Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Armenia, Finland, Azerbaijan, Australia, Greece, Poland and Iceland.
