Predictions for the Snooker Year of 2014

Right, with a feast of snooker to look forward to in 2014, thanks to Barry Hearn, Jason Ferguson and everyone at World Snooker. These days there are a lot more things that you can look to predict, and it's fair to say I have had a good go at predict some of them, offering 12 predictions for snooker in 2014 ranging from the winner of the Triple Crown events, to how many centuries Neil Robertson will finish the current season with.

Here they are then:

1)      Winner of World Championship: Ding Junhui - I said he'd win it 2 years ago, but I think he's definetly ready to do it now.

2)      Winner of the Masters: Ronnie O’Sullivan - The big events are what really motivates Ronnie, and he likes a good challenge. It doesn't get any bigger or more challenging than beating the top 16 in the world to win a prestigious title.

3)      Winner of The UK Championships: Mark Allen - you feel he has to win a big major sometime, so why not in 2014

4)      Surprise ranking winner: It wouldn’t be a huge surprise, but I have to feel that Michael White will win a ranking event in 2014 of the guys outside the current top 16.

5)      To end a long drought for a ranking win: Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump, both have worked to hard and are too talented to not win a ranking event some time, with Judd's last coming in November 2012 and Shaun's in March 2011.

6)      To finish the year World No.1 : Neil Robertson, he's been too good in 2013 and if he continues to play well in 2014 you can't see anyone passing him.

7)      To win most ranking events in 2014: Neil Robertson, again if he continues to play how he has in 2013, then he'll be a shoe in for this one.

8)      Big ranking climber: David Morris certainly to continue his climb up the rankings having re-joined the tour in 2013, a very talented player and it would be a shame not to see him continue to go forward.

9)      How many centuries will Neil Robertson finish the 2013/2014 season with? 91 for me (and not because 91 is my favourite number).

10)   Winner of the Shoot-out lottery? Jack Lisowski, a tournament tailor made for him, and usually one that is won by someone outside of the Top 16.

11)   Where will the 2014 UK Championships be held? Got to think they’ll stay in York, no reason to move them really a great venue.

12)   Classic Match of 2014 winner? A best-of-19 Masters final between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump would be a cracker if that happened. Otherwise there are a few scenarios for World Semi-finals or World Finals in 2014 that would produce absolute crackers.


So those are my efforts, if you disagree with any of them, then you'll have to head on to Twitter and tell me where I've gone wrong.

Happy New Year, good luck in everything you do in 2014, and enjoy what is sure to be a great year of snooker.