World Snooker Championship 2024 Wednesday Round 1 Tips: Two bets for the crucible

Snooker tipster Dean Strand has already given us his World Snooker Championship Betting Tips but he will also be giving us a daily tipping piece as well, continuing with Wednesday's round one matches. He has two bets for us including the seven time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Here are Dean's World Snooker Championship Wednesday Round 1 Tips. 

2 pts - Jackson Page Highest Break v Ronnie O’Sullivan @ 3/1

World number one and greatest player of all time Ronnie O’Sullivan starts his campaign today against 22-year-old Jackson Page. O’Sullivan has an impressive five trophies this season, including the other two Triple Crown events, the Masters and UK Championship.

As impressive as he’s been to win these tournaments, some of his early round performances haven’t been anywhere near his best, often just raising his game at key points in the match to get over the line.

In O’Sullivans nine best-of-19 matches over the last two seasons, he’s only made the highest break in four of them, failing to make a century on three occasions. Last season in his first round match here, his highest break was just 82 against Pang Junxu.

Page hasn’t had a brilliant season but he looks to have hit form at the right time. In the recent World Open he reached the semi finals, beating Higgins and Selby along the way and has made nine centuries in his last seven matches.

The last time he qualified for the Crucible he came out flying against Barry Hawkins with an impressive 10-7 win, making three centuries including a 135.

Given how well he’s currently scoring, 3/1 looks a little big for Page to make the highest break here.

2 pts - Jamie Jones to beat John Higgins @ 11/4

Jamie Jones can lack consistency throughout the season but when it comes to the big events he’s usually tough to beat. He’s had wins at the Crucible previously over Shaun Murphy twice, Stephen Maguire 10-4 and a few other narrow defeats against good players.

To qualify for this event he put in a great performance against Neil Robertson, after trailing 8-5 to come back and win in a decider.

Higgins has began to struggle in big matches these days and seems to be lacking a little in confidence at the moment. These two have met four times in the past winning two each with Jones winning the most recent match up last season.

You can follow all Dean's latest Snooker Betting Tips on our dedicated Betfred Insights page.