Free snooker betting tips and odds: International Championship

Once more the 40-somethings showed that there's no substitute for experience as Ronnie O'Sullivan romped to the English Open title in Barnsley last weekend.

The man he comprehensively beat in the final, Kyren Wilson, is one of a new generation of up-and-coming snooker stars who are doing their best to dislodge the established 'old brigade'.

But I feel the changing of the guard is still some way off and for that reason I am siding with John Higgins in the upcoming OPPO International Championship to be played in the Chinese city of Daqing.

The four-time world champion, 42, has already won a ranking title this season, beating fellow Scot Anthony McGill 5-1 to land the Indian Open - the 29th major win of a stellar career with only Stephen Hendry on 36 ahead of him.

The last three seasons have been something of a renaissance period for the Wizard of Wishaw, who has collected seven titles in that spell, risen to number three in the world rankings and has been one of the most consistent players on the circuit at a time when snooker is arguably the strongest it has ever been.

His run at the English Open last week was only halted by an inspired O'Sullivan who edged a match of high quality 4-3.

I was fortunate enough to see the match live and it could certainly have gone either way. But the thing about Higgins that puts him above most of his rivals is the fact that in every single tournament he enters he is a genuine contender and that is why he is value for money.

He goes into the International Championship at a standout 12/1 with Sky Bet. If you look at those ahead of him in the outright market, then you can see why I think he should be sided with.

O'Sullivan and defending champion Mark Selby are joint favourites, but Asia has not been a happy hunting ground for the Rocket in recent years and his last success there was the Shanghai Masters back in 2009.

World number one Selby is only showing his best form in patches and at the English Open was beaten 4-1 by Xiao Guodong, after having struggled through his opening match 4-3 against Scott Donaldson - a player 64 places below him in the rankings.

Judd Trump is third favourite but was surprisingly beaten in the English Open by close friend Jack Lisowski after being given a scare in his opener by Robbie Williams.

Then comes Ding Junhui, also ahead of Higgins in the betting, who did win the World Open earlier this season - the 13th ranking title of his career - but lost to Michael White in the second round at Barnsley and inactivity is also a major concern.

Higgins is more than capable of beating any of these players as he has proved on countless occasions and arrives in Daqing with his game in good shape, so as already mentioned 12/1 looks a price well worth taking advantage of.

Kyren Wilson has already been mentioned, having lost to O'Sullivan in the English Open final.

It was his second ranking final of the season, having lost 10-3 to Ding Junhui in the World Open, and it will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old from Kettering reacts to his thumping 9-2 loss at the hands of an unstoppable O'Sullivan.

I get the impression Wilson is a steely, determined character who will make sure he learns from the setback.

He, along with the likes of Lisowski, Luca Brecel and a plethora of emerging talent from China, are destined to be the future of snooker.

Wilson exploded onto the scene by winning the Shanghai Masters two years ago to land his first ranking title. Three finals and three semi-finals have followed so it seems only a matter of when, rather than if, he wins another.

He has a decent draw in Daqing with Ding and Shaun Murphy the biggest dangers in his quarter, so at 40/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral I feel his consistency and form is worthy of a small each-way interest.

Recommended bets: OPPO International Championship

3pts win John Higgins at 12/1

0.5pts e.w. Kyren Wilson at 40/1 (1/2 1,2)

Where to watch: Eurosport 1

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Posted at 1005 BST on 27/10/17.