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A quick look at the sporting line-up in April should get sports and betting fans excited. From the last day of March when Liverpool hosted Tottenham Hotspur in what proved to be a crucial game for both clubs, through to the beginning of May when the snooker World Championships reaches its climax, there is a veritable feast of delicious sporting action. Here is just a taste of what to expect.
Crucial Premier League fixtures
Following on from the clash between Liverpool and Spurs, April will see the Reds take on Chelsea amongst others, while title rivals Manchester City’s fixture list includes games against Spurs and arch-rivals Manchester United. By the end of the month, the course of the title race could be decided or we could see a situation where both clubs are neck and neck going into the last two games in May. Who is your money on?
The Grand National
All eyes will be on Tiger Roll to see if he can achieve what few others have ever done by defending his Grand National crown at Aintree on April 6. The nine-year-old is the early favourite in the betting with prices of around 7/2 available, per Paddy Power. The Grand National is the most valuable jump race in Europe and one of the most popular sporting events in the UK. For bookmakers, Grand National weekend is the busiest time of the year with many people placing their one and only bet of the year on this race.
The Masters tournament
Widely considered the biggest and best tournament on the golfing calendar, the Masters gets underway on April 11 at Augusta National Golf Course. With Tiger Woods back in the frame following a strong comeback year, this year’s event promises to be the most intriguing for a long time. Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is the early favourite as he looks to claim the one major trophy still missing from his cabinet.
Snooker World Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan is playing some of the best snooker of his life. He climbed back to No. 1 in the world rankings by drawing level with Stephen Hendry’s record of 36 ranking titles, winning the Players Championship and recording his 1,000th career century in the process. Over the course of the season, the Rocket has won 38 of the 43 matches he has played. So far, he has entered 10 tournaments, winning five and finishing runner-up in two more. He also reached the semi-final in another. He will now seek to claim his sixth world title when the action gets underway in Sheffield on April 20.
Image: Pxhere
Other highlights
These are just a few of the major events that will be staged during the month of April. Other highlights include the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, the English FA Cup semi-finals, the second legs of the Coppa Italia, Formula One races in China and Azerbaijan and the Table Tennis World Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary. Overall, sports fans will be spoilt for choice as we head into spring