Snooker
British Open: John Higgins vs Mark Davis Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025
Start Time: 13:00pm UK time
Venue: The Centaur, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Last meeting: 2025 World Open, Last 64, John Higgins 5-1 Mark Davis
Four-time British Open champion John Higgins takes on Mark Davis in the opening round of the 2025 edition. On Monday, 22nd September, these two titans will face off in a best-of-seven frame format. These two have a combined 69 years in the professional setup, displaying impressive longevity at the pinnacle of the sport. This is the third time both players have competed against each other this calendar year. Which player will win?
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John Higgins /Getty Images
Welcome to SportsBoom’s comprehensive and detailed preview as we provide all the coverage at one of the season’s most prestigious ranking events. Taking place between the English Open and key fixtures in China and Northern Ireland, this tournament is a highlight on every player's radar. We'll guide you through head-to-head history, key stats, form analysis, betting value picks, and our final winning prediction on which player will prevail.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability:
Mark Davis: 13/4 (4.35) – 22.9%
John Higgins: 2/9 (1.23) – 81.3%
Forecast odds – Betting available on Planetsport Bet closer to event
Head-to-Head: (Last 5 Games)
Snooker matches between John Higgins and Mark Davis have occurred for exactly three decades, with the first match occurring at the 1995 Grand Prix. Both players deserve massive respect for their longevity at the highest level. 21 total games later, Higgins edges out Davis with 11 wins.
That said, the Scotsman has won the last five matches. These wins have arrived in the opening stages of tournaments, two of which took place in the Last 64 in the World Open and German Masters earlier in the year. Both players will head into this match knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses; therefore, it should be an exciting contest.
Tournament | Stage | Score line |
2025 World Open | Last 64 | John Higgins 5-1 Mark Davis |
2025 German Masters | Last 64 | John Higgins 5-3 Mark Davis |
2023 English Open | Last 32 | John Higgins 4-0 Mark Davis |
2019 World Open | Last 32 | John Higgins 5-1 Mark Davis |
2019 World Championship | Last 32 | John Higgins 10-7 Mark Davis |
Player Career Timeline
John Higgins
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 6
British Open best result: Winner (1995, 1998, 2001, 2004)
Last season, John Higgins ended a multi-year drought of no TV titles and, in turn, announced himself as a dangerous threat once again. The Scotsman is ranked sixth in the world and is at the top of his game once more. Higgins won the World Open and Tour Championship back-to-back, highlighting his ruthless nature, which is a key characteristic of his game. This season, Higgins has reached the fifth round of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open, continuing the consistent performances he’s maintained for over three decades.
The snooker season is now in full swing, and this could be a tournament that Higgins adds to his impressive list of accolades, especially as he reached the final in last year’s edition. Higgins has previously won this tournament on four separate occasions, winning in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004. A victory in Cheltenham would mark his fifth title at this event, putting it on par with the Welsh Open and World Open as the most successful tournaments of his career.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
2025 Wuhan Open – Quarter-Final
2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – 5th Round
2025 World Championship – Quarter-Final
2025 Tour Championship – Winner
2025 World Open – Winner
Mark Davis
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 59
British Open best result: Third Round (1999, 2003)
Mark Davis has been on the professional circuit for one year longer than John Higgins, but has yet to win a ranking tournament since he joined the tour in 1991. Davis’s best televised run in a ranking tournament is finishing runner-up to Stuart Bingham in the final of the 2018 English Open. That said, he’s won eight non-ranking titles, winning three six-red World Championships and, most notably, won the World Seniors Championship in 2016.
Within the last year, he’s reached the second round of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters for a second time, but hasn’t won any further matches since the 2024 Northern Ireland Open. Davis’s trophy record may be nowhere near the level of Higgins, but he can take comfort in the fact that he’s defeated one of the sport’s most successful stars on ten different occasions.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – 2nd Round
2025 Championship League – Round Robin
2025 World Open – 1st Round
2025 Welsh Open – 1st Round
2025 German Masters – 1st Round
Value Bets
Total Frames – Under 6.5 Frames
First-round matches are quick because the format is a race to four frames. This brevity makes every game challenging, even for players in good form. Given Davis’s and Higgins’ extensive head-to-head record, we can expect a tight contest when looking at their head-to-head records.
Total Frames Even/Odd – Even
Based on our value bet that sees us predict this game to be completed in under 6.5 frames, we expect this game’s total frame count to end as an even number.
Either Player to Win Successive Frames – John Higgins
Given his ranking and imperious current form, Higgins looks likely to string together successive frame wins. In a best-of-seven format, gaining momentum through consecutive frames is a major advantage.
Prediction: John Higgins to win 4-2
SportsBoom expects John Higgins to win 4-2 against Mark Davis in this particular matchup. Higgins has a marginal advantage in the head-to-head, but his strong form should make him a firm favourite.
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Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry writes about football, darts, snooker, the NBA, the NFL and motorsport for multiple websites. He has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship after earning a degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism from UCFB in 2023.