Higgins the man to take the title

This year's snooker world championships appears to be the most open in years, with defending champion Shaun Murphy set to be challenged by former winners Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams and a crop of other would-be winners of the sport's biggest prize.

O'Sullivan starts as favourite but at 5-2 (3.50) there is little value, even if the Rocket is without doubt the most talented man ever to play the game. If he plays his best, then he will win, but the demons in O'Sullivan are inside his own head and it is a question of how he feels off the table that could most affect his performance on it.

On form this year, he should not be the favourite but it's tough to get motivated for the lesser tournaments and it would be no surprise to see O'Sullivan in top form when it comes down to the big one.

Higgins in good form
Bet365 have John Higgins next in their list at 7-2 (4.50) and the Scot, champion at the Crucible in 1998 and on paper, he could be the one to beat this year. Higgins has reached three finals this season and though he lost two of them, the one he won was a classic victory over O'Sullivan in The Masters in London. HIs break building is second to none and his only problem is confidence. If he remains focused, he has to have a great chance.

Defending champion Murphy, who won the event in dramatic fashion 12 months ago as a qualifier, is 13/2 (7.50) and his form has been improving of late, notably in the Welsh Open, where he reached the final and the draw has been kind to him.

Seven-times champion Stephen Hendry can never be written off at the Crucible and is an 8-1 (9.00) chance, but he is in the same half of the draw as O'Sullivan and Higgins and his path through is littered with potential stumbling blocks.

Mark Williams, who won his first ranking title since 2003 with victory in the China Open, could be a dark horse at 14/1 (15.00) while the same could be said for Matthew Stevens at the same price as the Welshman saves his best for the world championships.

Former champions Ken Doherty, at 18/1 (19.00) and Peter Ebdon, at 28/1 (29.00) will have their backers and Doherty did win the Malta Open recently. And there will always be money for Steve Davis and Jimmy White, at 125/1 (126.00) and 150/1 (151.00) respectively.

However, on form and past Crucible performance, Higgins would get my vote at 7/2 (4.50), while Stevens is a live outsider at 14/1 (15.00).