The UK Open Pool Championship takes place in Telford, England from May 7-12 as a mixture of professionals and amateurs compete in the first open championship of the World Nineball Tour season.

Having landed an 8/1 accumulator and narrowly been pipped at the post when tipping Joshua Filler to win the recent World Pool Masters, pool writer Ben Hudd returns with his best bets and analysis.

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UK Open Pool Championship 2024 betting tips

• Fedor Gorst to win the UK Open – 10/1 Bet365
• Jayson Shaw to win the UK Open – 16/1 E/W Bet365 1/2
• Duong Quoc Hoang to win the UK Open – 40/1 E/W Bet365 1/2
• Sanjin Pehlivanovic to win the UK Open – 66/1 E/W Bet365 1/2
• Pijus Labutis to win the UK Open – 100/1 E/W Bet365 1/2

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Despite the calmness, precision and overall temperament that Fedor Gorst showed when becoming World Pool Masters champion for the first time eight days ago, the world number three has been installed as a 10/1 third-favourite for the UK Open.

Gorst is without doubt the stand-out candidate to become UK Open champion, despite 15/2 favourite Joshua Filler having reached the final in both editions of the tournament. He now has that elusive major accolade in the World Nineball Tour era under his belt, which could spur him onto greatness things, and it’s taking something special to stop him.

Another name that leaps off the page towards the top end of the outright markets is 16/1 Jayson Shaw, the winner of last year’s final open championship at the Hanoi Open in Vietnam. Shaw was brimming with confidence at the Masters after losing weight during the off-season, knowing that he tends to play his best when in shape.

Elsewhere, Duong Quoc Hoang would have headed to the UK Open on cloud nine after winning an elusive WNT ranking accolade at the Scottish Open. The Vietnamese number one’s shot selection and effectiveness were exceptional in Glasgow, and he’s reached the business end previously in the Matchroom arena, most recently at last year’s Spanish Open.

Duong has almost every shot in the book and he’s a real shotmaker, knowing when to play safe and when to attack. The 37-year-old will not fear anyone following a Scottish success that saw him beat the likes of Eklent Kaci, Ko Pin-Yi, Carlo Biado and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and he could well be worth backing as a 40/1 outsider.

Another contender that is a strong each-way play is a 22-year-old Bosnian in Sanjin Pehlivanovic. He was a semi-finalist in Hanoi last year and was recently only stopped by Albin Ouschan in the Marina Open final in Italy. He’s one of many youngsters knocking on the door and eventually that door will move ajar.

Perhaps our most-recommended each-way fancy comes in the shape of Spanish Open semi-finalist Pijus Labutis. The Lithuanian provided a glimpse into his ability in Lugo last summer, overcoming both Ouschan and Gorst, but he’s evolved into one of the form players this year with notable runs to the Derby City Classic and Super Billiards Expo finals.

Labutis could give many a run for their money at massive odds and backing him 100/1 each-way may well be worth the gamble. Konrad Juszczyszyn and Moritz Neuhausen both earned a second glance at similar odds, but Labutis has been striking the ball too well not to make an impression in Telford.

Other selected odds for the UK Open include 20/1 for Eklent Kaci to defend his title, 33/1 and 50/1 respectively for snooker stars Gary Wilson and Stuart Bingham and 250/1 apiece for female stars Pia Filler and Seo Seoa.