A handful of betting agencies — BoyleSports, SportingBet, PaddyPower and Betfair, among others, have released their first set of odds for who will win Semi-Final 1 of Eurovision 2016.
It should come as no surprise that grand final favourite Sergey Lazarev leads the way here as well. The Russian star is the bookies’ clear favourite to win the semi, with his odds at 4/11 at BoyleSports and 2/5 at PaddyPower.
His song “You Are The Only One” topped the Wiwi Jury rankings and is currently second to France’s Amir to win the OGAE International fan poll.
If anyone is going to steal his thunder (and lightning), the bookies think it is Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan. They have her down as second favourite, with odds of 4/1 at BoyleSports.
Iveta has had to shorten her planned press tour as a result of geopolitical tensions in the Caucuses, but her live performance at the Moscow Eurovision Party has the bookies convinced of her abilities. Will her next live performance — during her first rehearsal in the Globen — take her even higher?
Malta’s Ira Losco is third overall, with odds of 7/1 at BoyleSports. However, a number of betting agencies including SportingBet and PaddyPower, actually have her listed as their second favourite to win.
The “Walk on Water” singer has routinely dazzled at the pre-show events. Malta has ambition, so we except massive staging.
At the moment San Marino, Moldova and Montenegro are seen as the countries least likely to win this semi-final.
Semi-final 1 betting odds: Who will win?
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Semi-final 1: Odds to qualify
Those are, of course, the odds to win Semi-Final 1. The bookies run a separate table for who will actually qualify.
At the moment PaddyPower believe the following 10 acts are the most likely to make it through: Russia, Malta, Armenia, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Iceland.
They think Estonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Greece, Austria, Finland, Moldova, San Marino and Montenegro are likely to miss out on the final.
The bookies’ odds shouldn’t be taken as doctrine — they often get it wrong. However, if they are correct, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Greece will fail to make the final for the first time in their history at Eurovision.
Do you agree with the bookies Top 10 acts to qualify? Who do you think is the most underrated and overrated? Let us know in the comments box below!
Armenia
12 points from Spain
Armenia …..my favorite.. good luck… from France
1. ARMENIA
Armenia!!!!!!!!!!!
1 ARMENIA
2 RUSIA
3 FRANC
4 MALTA
5 GERMANIA
Armenia
RUSSIA??? Sergey’s song is so terrible,I really don’t like it((( IVETA <3
take a look https://youtu.be/S6GdMwvIlXs?t=7m20s
1.Armeniaaaaaaaaaa 1000%
1.Armenia
2.Russia
1.Armenia
1.Armenia
2.Russia
sorry 2016 : )
malta should win eurovision 2017 who agrees ?
For me the best ten songs of this semifinal are: Russia, , Armenia, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Malta, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Estonia and Iceland.
With chace: Cyprus (good song but not good alive performance) Azerbaijan (Is not bad but is not enough good for the final with the level this year)
1.Armenia
2.Malta
3>Russia
4.Croatia
5.Hungary
6.Cyprus
7.Iceland
8.Azeerbaijan
9.Czech Republic
10.Bosnia & Herzegovina
@Charles
Armenia will be the third. Right behind Russia and Malta.
Yes! Only ONE live performance of Iveta was ENOUGH to improve her position in bookies list (4-5 places). Iveta hasn’t given any interview yet. She only had a performance with changed lyrics. So I think, Armenia’s position is pretty good at the moment. I believe, that her performance will be BRILLIANT, but juries will underrate Armenian entry as ALWAYS.
Why? Think about it))
Armenia, Netherlands, and Iceland are overrated. It would not be an upset if they did not make the Finals. Their replacements will by Austria, Estonia, Greece, or Bosnia & Herz. My favorite of these is Estonia.
@Marko
well Sergey is number 1, which is also questionable for me
but Armenia’s song is good 🙂
I would laugh if Armenia (and I am not personally in love with this one) ended up surpassing Russia at the actual semi final LOL I can image Sergey’s face … LOL
Armenia at 2nd place? What? That song is the biggest disappointment of the year and I don’t see a reason for it to be so high, let alone pass through the finals.
@Luke
Hi Luke, a shame that you can’t vote in semi final 1, i know how it feels if you can’t vote for your favourite, i had the same last year that Malta was last year in semi final 2, where i couldn’t vote either
anyway i wish your favourites good luck, and i agree with you about Russia 🙂
I just want my favourite to qualify Croatia but I can’t vote in Semi Final 1 because I’m from UK, so please vote for Nina I want her in the final I’d also like to see The Netherlands and Iceland in final please don’t let the overrated Russia win either
@Skandar well maybe the 2 maltese backing singers, are backing singers who sing with her quite a lot, and the 2 swedish that’s because of MPH has written the song with her right 🙂 , and i don’t care but I only find it a good thing she has live backing singers, which i wanted 🙂 and i might come over as defending my favourite, but even if she wasn’t my favourite, i’m just being plain honest now, she deserves to make the final, she has got one of the best songs in semi final 1 🙂 last year i… Read more »
@Mvaneijk97
well okay you’re right on that, but it had a more positive vibe for me, than slow down
@Pollaski
okay, maybe you’re right mate, but to me Ira’s song is more positive and Douwe’s song is really depressing
and yes I’m a big fan of Malta, we all know that by know 🙂 , but i’m proud of supporting them
and Ira’s song is more current, and Douwe Bob’s voice reminds me of R.E.M from losing my religion or Man on the moon, so a bit 90’s style
@Pollaski
As you already said, I like to be artistic and this is one reason I posted this ”comment”. I also did it, though, in order to emphasize my surprise.
@Craig
No….Greece gives a breeze of ethnic traditional music with a good combain of pontiac elements….something different in Eurovision
Crossing fingers for Austria instead of Armenia… 🙂
The top 10 is pretty good overall, though.
Something is very wrong if Greece qualify this year
Not about my personal tastes (My fav from here is Hungary, but I wouldn’t put one single song of this 18 in my top 5) but what I think will happen:
1-RUSSIA
2-ICELAND
3-HUNGARY
4-CZECH REPUBLIC
5-ESTONIA
6-CROATIA
7-MALTA
8-THE NETHERLANDS
9-ARMENIA
10-AZERBAIJAN
—-
11- AUSTRIA
12- CYPRUS
13- FINLAND
14- BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
15- MOLDOVA
16- GREECE
17- SAN MARINO
18- MONTENEGRO
I would trade Iceland and Cyprus for Estonia and Finland as the qualifier.
As for Russia, it is very overrated. Doesn’t scream 2016 for me.
@georgekirkas
You posted a comment… to say no comment
Is this an attempt to be artistic?
So strong semi final.Anyway 15 songs are really potential qualifiers the rest of 3 countries ( San Marino Montenegro and Moldova ) are 100% non qualifiers.So the most potential countries which can catch up its Bosnia and Greece.So I’m sure there won’t be any surprises in this semi final.My TOP 18..
1.Armenia
2.Malta
3.Russia
4.Hungary
5.Cyprus
6.Czech Republic
7.Iceland
8.Croatia
9.Estonia
10.Azerbaijan
11.Greece
12.Austria
13.Finland
14.Netherlands
15.Bosnia
16.Moldova
17.San Marino
18.Montenegro
How Semi 1 works for me:
1. Croatia 10/10
2. Malta 10/10
3. Iceland 10/10
4. Cyprus 10/10
5. Netherlands 9.5/10
6. Armenia 9.5/10
7. Czech Republic 9/10
8. Azerbaijan 8.5/10
9. Finland 8/10
10. Austria 8/10
——————-
11. Hungary 8/10
12. Estonia 7/10
13. Moldova 7/10
14. Russia 7/10
15. B&H 7/10
16. San Marino 6/10
17. Greece 5.5/10
18. Montenegro 2/10
@Skandar – why is it pathetic? Bigger countries than Malta have done it in the past and will do it this year. If you watch the Maltese selection you would notice how full of talent Malta is when considering the small population, I’m sure if they wanted they would have found two other Maltese backing vocalists. The song was composed, recorded and produced in Sweden and is being distributed under Warner Sweden, hence the two swedes (one of whom is 99.9999% MPH) were chosen by the producers I suppose. I respect your opinion for thinking it’s maybe a lousy idea,… Read more »
@nene i’m not too sure what to think of armenia. us fans, we know that she’ll eventually start singing but for people who hear the song for the first time it might be dreading to hear her talk in the first minute of the song..
I totally agree with you. Armenia`s song in first rehearsal was horrible for me. Now it`s better but I still dislike this song. But I think Armenia would be in Grand Final.
In my opinion Czech Republic is very overrated. This song is boring and recycled. Czech Republic wouldn`t be in Grand Final.
Russia would win first semi-final – Sergey is a very good vocalist and he would prepare exciting show:)
Malta would be in Grand Final but wouldn`t in top 3 in first semi-final.
To Grand Final would qualify: Russia, Malta, Armenia, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Iceland, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia. Cyprus has a good song but this band can`t sing in live.
Countries that should qualify (Random order):
Cyprus
Austria
Russia
Finland
Malta
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Azerbaijan
Iceland
Russia,Malta,Azerbaijan,Croatia,Armenia,Hungary and Iceland will definitely go through ! Czech Republic and Cyprus are likely candidates while Greece and Bosnia will fight it out ! Creepy Juri and repetitive Dutch boy won’t qualify
@Nicky 91
In Douwe Bob’s song, the phrase “Slow down” is sung 24 times.
In Ira Losco’s song (your favorite, as we’ve all come to guess by now, the phrase “on water” is sung 19.5 times- I’m awarding a half because the second chorus cuts off “water” to lead into the bridge.
So, uh, it seems weird to hate a song for being repetitive when your favorite is only slightly less so.
@Daniel E.: That’s exactly how I want it, too! As long as Azerbaijan, Austria, Russia and Hungary make it I’m okay with anyone!
Bonsoir Stockholm,
Voici mes votes pour la 1ère 1/2 finale :
Qualifiées (Ordre alphabétique)
Arménie, Autriche, Azerbaidjan, Bosnie Herzegovine, Croatie, Grèce, Hongrie, Moldavie, Pays-Bas, Russie
Eliminées (Ordre alphabétique)
Chypre, Estonie, Finlande, Islande, Malte, Montenegro, Rep. Tchèque et San Marino.
Concernant l’Autriche : l’OGAE France a donné 12 points !!! L’Autriche est à la 10e place des OGAE, je pense qu’elle va se qualifier. Allez Zoë !!!
France, Espagne et Suède votent pour la 1ère demi-finale.
OGAE Allemagne (en cours)
Frankreich
Österreich
Russland
(Deutschland)
Australien
Lettland
Spanien
Schweden
Italien
Zypern
Ukraine
Bises,
Maxime
@Pollaski
No comment…
Definitely the stronger semi final between the two. We will know more after the rehearsals, but right now it looks like: – Russia is probably a lock to qualify – the bottom 3 (San Marino, Moldova, Montenegro) – I just don’t even see the potential with the others, lots of things can still happen – Croatia should qualify, but everytime Nina Kraljic performed the song, her odds started to drift, so you never know… – Armenia and Hungary should qualify, unless they make some major f*kery – one of Finland, Greece, or Bosnia could somehow sneak into the final with… Read more »
@Elyk I understand that there are not enough composers on that small island but how on earth Ira does not find 2 more vocalists in Malta. Pathetic, she has to import 2 swedish vocalists for swedish song…
@Skandar
Of course I’m self-confident. I am a product of selected breeding by God himself over several centuries and a wide geographical diaspora, all to create the ultimate analytical mind. This is irrefutable so do not even attempt 🙂
Obviously the contest in May still needs to happen as it is ultimately a live singing contest and a terrible performance will change matters (Macedonia last year springs to mind). Also, as great as my mind is, I still enjoy the pretty colors of the staging, and the costumes, and it’d be a shame to miss that.
Ira Losco will have Skorpion, the dancer in the video with her on stage as well as 4 backing singers – 2 Maltese + 2 Swedish
@Pollaski You are very self confident. 😀 Europe voted wrong, but you are right…. I think you should decide the winner now and send the result to Mr. Bjorkman. Forget that stupid show in May! Maybe Europe will vote wrong…..