John Higgins 
Zhao Xintong Defending champion meets reigning world champion. The Tour Championship does not lack for narrative this time around. John Higgins won this title in 2025, beating Judd Trump in the final. Zhao Xintong arrives as the man who took Trump's world crown at the Crucible and has been unstoppable across the Players Series this season. Something has to give.
John Higgins
Ranked third in the world with 31 ranking titles and four world championships on his CV, Higgins remains one of the most complete players the sport has produced. His form in this tournament reads two wins from three, and defending a title at this level tells you he arrived in form rather than on reputation. At 2.75, the market is treating him as a clear underdog, which might raise an eyebrow given he beat Trump in last year's final on the same stage. Higgins in long-format snooker is a different animal. He slows matches down, makes opponents think, and rarely beats himself with careless errors. The century tally of 1,085 speaks to a consistency that does not fade under pressure.
Zhao Xintong
The numbers around Zhao Xintong this season are genuinely remarkable. World Champion, World Grand Prix winner, Players Championship winner. He is chasing something that has never been done before: a clean sweep of all three Players Series events in the same season. That kind of run does not happen by accident. Ranked seventh in the world with 185 centuries and a 147 to his name, he is 24 frames into a dominant stretch across the most competitive events on the calendar. His Tour Championship form of three wins from four matches shows no signs of him easing off. At 1.44, the market firmly believes this is his moment.
Betting Verdict
Zhao at 1.44 is short, but the case for him is hard to argue against. Three major titles this season, clean and ruthless snooker throughout, and motivated by history. That said, Higgins defending this title on the back of two wins out of three here is not the profile of a man who rolls over easily. At 2.75, there is genuine value in the Higgins price if you believe experience and long-format composure can disrupt Zhao's momentum. The honest read is that Zhao's form this season is the kind that carries players through regardless of opponent. Higgins will make him work, but the trajectory only points one way right now.
Zhao Xintong to Win
1.44
Three ranking titles in one season and chasing history makes Zhao the standout selection. The 1.44 reflects a player who has been the best on tour all season, not just a favourite by default. Higgins is dangerous, but Zhao's form and motivation make him very hard to oppose.