The first Semi-Final of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest is just hours away. Last night the eighteen participating countries performed during the jury final. And tonight they’ll lace up their corsets and slip into their sparkliest pants for the live broadcast and public vote. To help us gage the potential winner and 10 qualifiers, we’re taking one last look at the Semi-Final 1 odds.

Russia’s Sergey Lazarev, who was the Wiwi Jury’s only one ahead of rehearsals, still leads the betting odds to win Eurovision 2016. It should come as no surprise that bookmakers think he is most likely to also win Semi-Final 1 as well, with odds as low as 1/5 at some agencies.

We filmed his dress rehearsal on Monday afternoon and it was his best performance yet.

Bookmakers think that Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan is most likely to stop Sergey from running away with Semi-Final 1. The lyrics to “LoveWave” may have caused some confusion — ba-ba-da-bu-whoa-oh-oh — but Iveta’s live performances has the bookmakers and Team Wiwi convinced that she could challenge for gold, with odds as low as 4/1 at some agencies.

After recently visiting Iveta Mukuchyan in Armenia ahead of Eurovision, Malta’s Ira Losco joins the “LoveWave” singer in the top three of the odds table. With odds as low as 7/1, bookmakers think Malta stands an outside chance to walk on water and win this Semi-Final.

At the other end of the spectrum, San Marino’s Serhat, Montenegro’s Highway and Finland’s Sandhja are considered by bookmakers to be the least likely to win Semi-Final 1.

Semi-Final 1 Betting Odds: Who Will Win?

Winning Odds 1

Place your bet with Betfair now

Semi-Final 1: Odds to Qualify

Qualification Odds 1

 

At the moment, the countries most likely to advance to the Grand Final are Russia, Armenia, Malta, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Netherlands, Iceland, Hungary, Croatia and Azerbaijan.

That means that Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Austria, Greece, Finland, Moldova, San Marino and Montenegro will be heading home early according to bookmakers. This would mean an end to the perfect qualification records of both Bosnia & Herzegovina and Greece.

Do you agree with the bookies? Will Russia run away with Semi-Final 1 and which countries do you think will qualify?

All odds correct as of 7am CET.

Follow our Eurovision odds here

 

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Fru
Fru
7 years ago

Russia – Sergey – didn’t show me new things. He did a show like Mans last year.. Same visual effects and another lame pop song! Sorry

1. Hungary
2. Israel
3. Chech Republic
4. Latvia – that voice!!!
5. Cyprus
6. Azerbajian
7. Malta
8. Bulgaria
9. Australia
10. Maybe Spain..

I’m not even impressed by this year’s songs. Good luck!

Kamila
7 years ago

t

willy the wisp
willy the wisp
7 years ago

Well now after the last few yrs Ireland had some good entries, maybe not the best but better than some, In 2013 Ryan Dolan sang not a bad song and he performed well only to be last ,,,Still cant figure that out and the others didnt get to the final even tho so many irish live around the work could have voted and many did yet there was bad results, Its not the singer or the song’s now its the stage show and Russia has the best one this time, And who are the judges i seen some of the… Read more »

Pretty Woman
Pretty Woman
7 years ago

Iveta (Armenia) winner.

Mohalanoma
Mohalanoma
7 years ago

Austria is the best!

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

1)ARMENIA
2)Russia
3)Greece
4)Malta
5)Hungary
6)Cyprus
7)Czech Republic
8)Croatia
9)Azerbaijan
10)Iceland

fraser anderson
fraser anderson
7 years ago

malta best song by a long way ,holland next

Keith
Keith
7 years ago

Now its Malta s turn to win a eurovision,
The song is beautifull, Ira losco is great
Hope they will win.

fred
fred
7 years ago

Malta should win this time……Ira is great….. she s pregnant too !!!

Reb
Reb
7 years ago

The ones who I think will make it tonight, in a random order;

Malta
Armenia
Russia

(For sure)

Hungary
Croatia
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Cyprus

Tho, still think that either Greece/B&H/Estonia will make it.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Apart from Russia and Armenia coming 1st and 2nd, this is extremely hard to predict and I’m eagerly waiting for the show and the results, will be a bloodbath!

This is my current top with PREDICTED QUALIFIERS in CAPITAL LETTERS:
1. Bosnia & Herzegovina (surprise, surprise) / 2. ARMENIA / 3. RUSSIA / 4. CROATIA / 5. AUSTRIA / 6. Moldova / 7. GREECE / 8. ICELAND / 9. Estonia / 10. CZECH REPUBLIC / 11. Finland / 12. CYPRUS / 13. NETHERLANDS / 14. MALTA / 15. Hungary / 16. Azerbaijan / 17. San Marino / 18. Montenegro

George Angelopoulos
George Angelopoulos
7 years ago

1. Russia
2. Armenia
3. Czech Republic
4. Greece
5. Cyprus
6. The Netherlands
7. Iceland
8. Hungary
9. Bosnia & Herzegovina
10. Azerbaijan

Peter Alex
Peter Alex
7 years ago

My personal prediction for first semi-final qualifiers(random order)
Russia
Armenia
Greece
Croatia
Iceland
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Malta
Austria
Hungary

esc 2016
esc 2016
7 years ago

My qualifiers:

Russia(no)
1-Hungary
2-Armenia(my favourite to win the whole thing)
3-Cyprus
4-Croatia-Nevertheless Im on the edge
5-Malta
6-Estonia
7-Iceland
Austria(no)
8-Czech Republic
Moldova(no)
Netherlands(no)
Azerbaijan(no…worst vocals)
Finland(no)
9-Bosnia & Herzegovina
San Marino(no)
10-Greece
Montenegro(no)

Layla
Layla
7 years ago

These courses are a mockery. Awful Sweden higher than Australia, Armenia, Malta, Israel? UK higher than Bulgaria, Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Norway and Spain? Belgium higher than Poland, Cyprus, Hungary, Croatia and Norway? Boring Ireland higher than Belarus, Greece and Lithuania? It’s a joke… ;|

eurotwist
eurotwist
7 years ago

Russian jury should be disqualified asap! I think malta should win by hearing it on radio its very catchy but for Russia its a total copy of last years win ‘hero’ ….. I admit its a nice song but nothing original and for Armenia I don’t like the song but good performance, not a winner

redhot
7 years ago

malta should win….

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

I think we will see A LOT of upsets tonight. My final predictions are (in no particular order)

Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Armenia, San Marino (Yes, people will vote for him LOL), Russia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia and Malta.

MirkoJoshua
MirkoJoshua
7 years ago

I strongly doubt the Netherlands will qualify…

Redfox
Redfox
7 years ago

to GoDonny: thank you! exactly. it has almost been 30 years and they are still stuck in the past while we have all moved on! it is the west that has stagnated views, not us!

Xeph
Xeph
7 years ago

Iveta is absolutely insane live, and the staging looks great. I’m rooting for Armenia this year! 🙂

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

,
you’re getting really famous! my mom just called and said she saw you on our TV, TSN news channel, where you spoke about Jamala. They took excerpt from your latest review where William spoke. she told it was guys with pink “W” on their tees.
you’re getting very popular in every household, wiwi! keep it up! 🙂

Arus
Arus
7 years ago

Armenia
Rossia
Pohland
Greece
France

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Chuff the odds, here is who I want to qualify:

Czech Republic
Croatia
Malta
Iceland
Hungary
Armenia
Russia
Netherlands
Estonia
Cyprus

As long as Gabriela qualifies I’m happy!

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

are yo talking about Anastasia Stotskaya who translated her duck lips and jury voting live on her Periscope?
she removed it today, but link got viral in Eurovision.tv comments. I guess many people had a pleasure to learn who is Russian judges and how they judge. Instead of listening to the song they laughed and cheered like they are in the pub, while making utterly unprofessional comments (said that Douwe Bob is boring, etc).
that’s a disgrace to all judges. how we can be sure they are serious about their job?

Ă‘u
Ă‘u
7 years ago
Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

My prediction:
1.Armenia
2.Russia
3.The Netherland
4.Czech Republic
5.Cyprus
6.Austria
7.Croatia
8.Iceland
9.Malta
10.Hungary
……………………..

11.Azerbaijan
12.Estonia
13.Bosnia&Herzegovina
14.Greece
15.Finland
16.Moldova
17.Montenegro
18.San Marino

GoDonny
GoDonny
7 years ago

Dear Wiwibloggs,
Why are You referring to Eastern European countries as former Soviet bloc pack? You should know that the Soviet era were dark times and these countries hate when westeners call them like that. All those nations are now free and there’s no point of calling them “former Soviet” countries. I love Wiwibloggs and all Your reviews but please keep in mind that Eastern Europeans are very sensitive when it comes to history.
Best wishes,

Redfox
Redfox
7 years ago

to power b: some of them were seen in a video which is on Youtube. Now, I have nothing against Sergey, although his song is not the slightest bit original, it only has a fast beat that makes people like it, but if the behavior of the jury is just ignored, it means EBU doesnt care if anyone follows the rules. Then I just can´t trust this contest. I kinda dont agree with the odds, cause I think it will get shaken up a bit. Croatia might not qualify if she wears that costume, and people might actually judge Azerbaijans´… Read more »

dan
dan
7 years ago

1)Armenia
2)Russia
3)Greece
4)Malta
5)Hungary
6)Cyprus
7)Czech Republic
8)Croatia
9)Azerbaijan
10)Iceland

Fatima
Fatima
7 years ago

Russia aren’t my favourite. If it were up to me they’d be disqualified following the behaviour of their jury and in particular the appalling Anastasia Stotskaya. They have demonstrated such disrespect for the contest, its rules and the semi-final competitors. I want to see a show without Sergey tonight.

Racal
Racal
7 years ago

Instead of “the former Soviet bloc slays”, you really should be saying “neighboring and diaspora vote helps a lot, like A LOT”. Russia is nothing without the reliable votes from their satellite countries, just like Armenia is nothing without their diaspora votes (and they will get tons of it in SF1, with France and the Netherlands voting).

These songs, if they were sung by Portugal or Lithuania, would be laughed at.

Bhrister Cjorkman
Bhrister Cjorkman
7 years ago

Final prediction:

1. Russia
2. Hungary
3. Armenia
4. Cyprus
5. Croatia
6. Malta
7. Estonia
8. Iceland
9. Austria
10. Czech Republic
———
11. Moldova
12. Netherlands
13. Azerbaijan
14. Finland
15. Bosnia & Herzegovina
16. San Marino
17. Greece
18. Montenegro

Laura
Laura
7 years ago

Interesting to see Azerbaijan as a qualifier, if they do then it means they’ve bought votes again imo

Jack Silver
Jack Silver
7 years ago

Iveta (Armenia) my winner

Sal
Sal
7 years ago

Hoping for Iceland, Malta, Croatia, Czechia, Armenia, Hungary but also Austria, Greece and B&H to qualify 🙂

power b.
power b.
7 years ago

Redfox
Where I can find the results?

Redfox
Redfox
7 years ago

Russian jury is breaking the rules and revealing results before the contest. Jury points should be taken away from Russia.
how can people vote a country with a cheating, disrespectful, peasantly jury for the win? They should not be allowed to give or receive any jury points.