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Ding and Stevens offer Crucible value

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The bow ties will be out in force as snooker returns to the fabled Crucible for the World Championship which gets underway on Saturday.

At 5/1 the field, it is a wide-open event where the old guard will attempt to fend off challenges from a host of up-and-coming youngsters who will attack with abandon.

Barry Hearn is attempting to revive the sport and with more events this season, the players won't be able to complain about a lack of sharpness.

Baize bullets

• John Higgins to win the title - 5/1 at bet365
• Matthew Stevens to be top qualifier- 7/1 at bet365
• Ding Junhui to win top break prize - 10/1 at bet365

One player who may be able to throw up a lack of match practice as an excuse is Ronnie O'Sullivan, but that is entirely his own fault after a miserable season. The Rocket is the most gifted player in snooker, but his form has been miserable and after suffering yet another first-round exit in China recently he talked about retirement. It's not the first time he has muttered that word, but it came close to being realised as he informed World Snooker that he did not want to play at The Crucible. A weekend of reflection prompted a change of heart and he has made an effort to shake off the malaise by visiting the sports psychologist who helped Britain's cyclists ahead of their gold rush at the Beijing Olympics. Whether it will work is anyone's guess and it would take a brave man to row in on O'Sullivan, although the 13/2 on offer could look big if he negotiates his way past Dominic Dale in the first round.

The market is headed at 5/1 by John Higgins and the Scot is a rock-solid favourite. His world was thrown upside down last year following a newspaper sting into match fixing. He was found not guilty of match fixing but served a ban for bringing the game into disrepute. Higgins made a victorious, glorious, return to action when lifting the UK Championship in December. A further title came Higgins' way at the Welsh Open, which was an emotional success as it came a matter of weeks after the death of his father.

The gap between the top and the bottom in snooker has narrowed and there will be no easy first-round matches, but it could be argued Higgins has one of the toughest openers against a resurgent Stephen Lee. Former world No. 5 Lee has shown flashes of his old form this season and will provide a stern examination, but over the long format Higgins will have too many guns. The draw suggests Higgins' first real test will come in the quarter finals, provided O'Sullivan works his way past the first two rounds. That really would be an epic last-eight encounter as by getting through his first two rounds would suggest O'Sullivan is primed for battle. If they do meet it is easy to see the winner coming from that clash and over the extended format we would come down on the side of Higgins who has made it clear that his aim for this season is lift a fourth World Championship.

The top half of the draw sees champion Neil Robertson top the seedings, but no player since Stephen Hendry in 1996 has defended the title and there are a string of obstacles - beginning with China Open winner Judd Trump - facing him.

Stevens can surprise

Each-way options are not overly appealing given the market is first two only, meaning your selection has to reach the final for you to collect. As such we feel wisest bet in the outright market is to following the Higgins factor and back him to win.

There are a couple of enticing other markets, with the 7/1 on offer for Matthew Stevens to be the qualifier to go furthest a value bet. The Welshman has been in sizzling form this season, has form at The Crucible having reached the final in 2000 and 2005. His first-round opponent Mark Allen is a huge talent but Stevens could hold too many guns and such offers some value.

The other market to catch the eye is the highest break prize. O'Sullivan is the favourite at 6/1 and given his ability it is little wonder the bookmakers are wary. The talent pool in snooker means this prize could go to any of the 32 players, but one who will give himself plenty of chances to score is Chinese superstar Ding Junhui. Ding loves racking up big breaks, it took him just five years to rack up a century of centuries - he now has over 200 to his name - and has made two maximums. With those stats to fall back on, there is merit in stepping in to take the 10/1 on offer.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.