He’s the 17-year-old star singing “Beautiful Mess” at Eurovision 2017.

But ahead of tonight’s Second Semi-Final, Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov is sitting pretty at the top of the semi-final betting odds.

The bookies have the X Factor alum well ahead of the competition with his odds as low as 4/7 and shortening just hours ahead of the semi. His stage show — choreographed by Sweden’s Sacha Jean-Baptiste — exudes a high art sensibility and sees him interacting with digital effects on his LED and those overlayed on the TV screen.

Russia’s absence from this semi-final also means the Russian diaspora vote is up for grabs.

Kristian seems like the most likely candidate to scoop them up. Born and raised in Moscow, he rose to fame on The Voice Kids of Russia, where he was mentored by Eurovision 2008 winner Dima Bilan

Big voices define the second and third favourites in this semi, with The Netherlands’ OG3NE and Denmark’s Anja Nissen battling it out. Both of their odds hover around 8, with the Netherlands having marginally better odds when averaged across all agencies.

They’ve consistently wowed us with their harmonies, which collectively make up the best “voice” in the competition. Their simple but effective stage show helps pull a slightly throwback song into 2017 — even with the very dated electric guitar segment.

Romania, the fourth favourite, has perhaps the greatest range of odds in this top lot. They’re as low as 11/2 but as high as 10 — suggesting that the bookies are somewhat torn over where this over-the-top and outré act can gather enough support to push through.

Eurovision 2017: Semi-Final 2 Odds to win

 

Eurovision 2017: Semi-Final 2 Odds to qualify

The odds to win the semi-final are one thing. The odds to qualify are a different matter.

The bookies currently believe the following ten acts will advance to the grand final: Bulgaria, Romania, The Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, Israel, Hungary, Austria, Belarus and Norway.

That means, in their eyes, the following acts are going home: Serbia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Switzerland, Ireland, Malta, Lithuania and San Marino. 

What do you make of the bookies’ odds?

Do they have this on lock — or are some of their predictions slightly off?

Let us know in the comments box below.

Read our latest Eurovision 2017 odds post

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Boris Rangelov
Boris Rangelov
6 years ago

No he is not a star. I live in Bulgaria and I dont know him. Stop to write such nonsense. He is not star in Bulgaria.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

They only got one wrong.

peter murphy
peter murphy
6 years ago

netherlands – americanism-
insufferable nonsense Cry no more- ill try
whats so great about this song? its total forgettable rubbish

Gerritjan Beun
Gerritjan Beun
6 years ago
Reply to  peter murphy

I guess your brain is a bit rubbish…

mark
mark
6 years ago
Reply to  peter murphy

this song is about their mother who is dying at the moment with bone cancer, so please be carefull with your comments.

DyGh
DyGh
6 years ago

I just heard one of the OG3NE sisters has only 1 lung, still she sings extremely good!

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Have the bookies ever been very wrong with their ESC predictions? And I don’t mean “eleventh instead of seventh” wrong, I mean absolutely DEAD WRONG about half of songs, with third, fourth and fifth not qualifying and 15th, 17th and 18th qualifying instead???

Arc
Arc
6 years ago

I think OG3NE’s song is going to come across as way too religious for a lot of people. The video wasn’t that bad but the staging makes it look like Christian-a-palooza circa ’95. Plus the clapping, the cheesy electric guitar… I wouldn’t be that surprised if this didn’t make it. But the voices are undeniable.

mark
mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Arc

this has nothing to do with religious, they sing to their mother, who has bone cancer and dying as we speak. So you can only imagine in what kind of state these brave girls are to perform for us audience, while back home their mother is struggling for her life.

Alon Israel
Alon Israel
6 years ago

this is how i feel for tonight’s competition: Norway…this song makes me feel good and the text can pushes everyone to think about living life without thinking too much… i see Norway qualifying tonight. i hope that Switzerland will qualify, too… it was my number 1… but after seen the rehearsal something happened…the song lost its magic…sometimes colors are critical for how we judge a song… Croatia is still a fantastic song and is definately have a place in the final. Many says that Romania’s song is cheap…i like it because the combination of yodel and rap is innovative and… Read more »

Lukewarm
Lukewarm
6 years ago

Qualifiers (no order): Belarus, Bulgaria, Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Denmark, Romania, Austria, Ireland, Serbia.

I really hope Lithuania makes it but the middle of the pact is so close in this semifinal.

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Denmark will qualify. I am absolutely certain about that. Anja is a girl you can take anywhere and she’s a good old fashioned quality act that will appeal to a large swathe of voters on the night.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

I hope so. Last year, most of Scandinavia was wiped out, but Sweden (the hosts) easily finished in the top 20. This year, Sweden qualified, but Finland (favored to finish in the top 10) and Iceland didn’t. Will Denmark and Norway get sent packing once again?

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Hang on, I thought they just released the 10 qualifiers? How can you bet on the winner when we’ll not find out who that is? Confused!

Hi
Hi
6 years ago

@Darren.
And the biggest crsp ftom Romania…

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

Seriously bad feeling that Ireland won’t qualify, but if they don’t , and crap from Croatia and Denmark does qualify….Eurovision will officially be the biggest joke ever and will never get recognition as a credible contest while novelty acts and shouty showboating women reign supreme.

My qualifiers for semi 2:
Bulgaria
FYR Macedonia
Serbia
Austria
Ireland
Hungary
Norway
Belarus
Netherlands
Israel

Likely qualifiers:
Romania
Bulgaria
Hungary
Serbia
Norway
Denmark
Estonia
FYR Macedonia
Croatia (ugh)
Israel

Tomi
Tomi
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

No reason to hate Croatia. Song is nice and has nice message (not all so gs must be about lovers), his voice is great, back vocals are great, his overall performance will be good and original. So, you should ask yourself does your hate towards this song speaks more about you or the song itself.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

You are deluded

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Unless some of the winners are known in advance, how do they know? I mean, in the last semi, and both semis of 2016, they have been only one off (coincidentally, the song predicted to qualify, but missing the finals was ALWAYS one of my top favorites – Hear Them Calling, Icebreaker, Blackbird). Has there EVER been a case of oddmakers being more than one song off? Many of my favorites are predicted as non-qualifiers and I am sad to think that not more than one of them has a chance. With my luck, bookies will again be 9/10 right,… Read more »

V. Serduchka
V. Serduchka
6 years ago

Bulgaria is going to do very well in the final
Romania is insane, I love that
Netherlands – female Il Volo (meaning they will not win the jury)
I like so many from this semifinal

Freckled boy
Freckled boy
6 years ago

With all due respect: Romania is the reason Eurovision-lovers love Eurovision even more, and Eurovision-haters will never ever like Eurovision…

kwach
kwach
6 years ago

San Marino to win this semi…

joaomr
joaomr
6 years ago

Bulgaria will win…

Kaz
Kaz
6 years ago

Why do we even look at the Odds..
This semi is so open. There are basically 15 entries competing for 7-8 spots in the final. Very few are 100% sure to qualify/go home.

Yossarian
Yossarian
6 years ago

Rooting for Ireland too (but happy for Moldova). 🙂

Yossarian
Yossarian
6 years ago
Reply to  Yossarian

OK, I was answering to Steve Gray, but for some reason, my comment ended up here. Not sure why.

AlexxC
AlexxC
6 years ago

Vote for Norway in this semi final! I really want Norway to the Grand Final! #grabthefinal ??

Mylo
Mylo
6 years ago

Surely qualifying are Romania(huge diaspora in france switzerland germany hungary and israel), Bulgaria, Netherlands, Serbia and Israel. 50/50 are Croatia (balkan diaspora + some small numbers in austria and germany) , Austria (might get high points from Germany, Switzerland and France + jury surely liked it), Hungary (probably coming back in Saturday), Macedonia (loveable studio version, dreadful live., might scrape into the final), Belarus (this one is getting 24 points from Ukraine no matter what, charming and cute entry, but we have loads of those in this semi) NQ: It’s quite obvious that Norway is not going to qualify. Ireland… Read more »

olvresc
olvresc
6 years ago

Could be another story that all the ex Yugp countries will stay in the semis like in 2013.

coryn
coryn
6 years ago

the odds also said Finland and Latvia will pass, but they didn’t

Aria
Aria
6 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Actually Latvia was 12th in odds
Finland had only recently climbed from 11th to 7th thereby displacing Poland which ultimately displaced them

Hi
Hi
6 years ago

Romania its a BIG joke.

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago
Reply to  Hi

but they are committed to the joke, and vocally Ilinca sounds really good with the yodelling, and Alex is in fact getting better with his pop/rap bits

just laugh at it tonight please take my advice 🙂

Aria
Aria
6 years ago
Reply to  anonymous91

Have you no mind?? Being committed to something bad doesn’t make it good!!

Romania is divisive to say the least.

Ascension Music
Ascension Music
6 years ago

Hey guys, what did you think of the results and production of Semi-Final 1? Here’s my review and reaction to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPA40szVZQ

Po
Po
6 years ago

Lithuania should be among the top in this semi. I hope to see Norway in the final!
Let’s hope Denmark, Estonia, Switzerland, San Marino and Malta stays in the semi cause they are just awful!

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  Po

Agree with Lithuania and Norway 🙂 But I also like the songs of Switzerland and San Marino, and Denmark and Malta would be OK if there wasn’t 10 better songs. It is such a hard semi! 🙂

LAURA
LAURA
6 years ago
Reply to  Zolipop

The only thing thats awful here is your taste which absoltely STINKS

Peter jonss
Peter jonss
6 years ago

Ireland like Finland have no voting friendships in Europe really
Ireland were right to send the turkey one year
They were saying here’s a turkey for your stupid fixed competition
Lol

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Peter jonss

My country (Netherlands) came second in 2014. Tell me, besides Belgium, which country consistently votes for us? No one. Unless you count our huge diaspora (that’s a joke)

Could it be that you’re just regurgitating lies that have been debunked numerous times?

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  LAHAYANO

Could be a toss-up, between Netherlands and Austria qualifying. If a feel-good, light-hearted entry from Malta 2013 qualified, so can they. The problem here is, for some, who have other favorites that they definitely intend to vote for, they may find themselves choosing one or the other but not both. I have AUT qualifying on my scorecard, but NED barely missing out.

Maniac
Maniac
6 years ago

Croatia must qualify , cmon Jacques !!

eda
eda
6 years ago

Romania is awful, Denmark is awful, The netherlands are boring

Po
Po
6 years ago
Reply to  eda

Totally agree with you. Add San Marino and Estonia to awful list and Malta to boring list

Peter jonss
Peter jonss
6 years ago
Reply to  eda

Very boring song
Indeed but the bookies are driving the competition u see

Justitia
Justitia
6 years ago
Reply to  eda

The Dutch girlband is extremely annoying. When they start singing I could run away.

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Justitia

Nobody is forcing you to sit through it.

You just seem envious.

Justitia
Justitia
6 years ago
Reply to  LAHAYANO

Look up in the dictionary what annoyed means.

SpirK
SpirK
6 years ago

Hard semi to predict, there are 6-7 songs that will qualify with ease and then it’s almost anyone’s game. Got 8/10 on Tuesday let’s see if I can do better here (percentage of qualifying possibility) Definitely qualifying: Bulgaria (100%), Romania (100%), The Netherlands (90%) Safely qualifying: Estonia (80%), Denmark (80%), Hungary (80%) Will probably qualify: Austria (65%), Israel (60%), Belarus (55%) I really don’t know who’ll be the 10th one, I think it will be a shocker and it will be Croatia (50%) Borderline non qualifiers: Norway (45%), Malta (40%), Serbia (40%) Not qualifying: FYR Macedonia (30%), Ireland (30%), Switzerland… Read more »

Henry
Henry
6 years ago
Reply to  SpirK

I agree with this, but i’m afraid that Denmark might be the “Finland” of semi2. But i hope not ofcourse.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Henry

You might be right. Scandinavia took a pounding last year, and host country Sweden easily finished top-20, meaning that they would have qualified with Frans if the contest had been held elsewhere. We could end up seeing FIN, ICE, NOR and DEN going home again.

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

The bookies are bound to get one or two wrong They were wrong about Finland on Tuesday night. I think of the bookies picks that Israel and Norway are in most danger of missing out, even though love Norway I think they could miss out. I really don’t want Croatia to qualify but have a feeling they could sneak through

Bojo
Bojo
6 years ago

Wrong!

esc1234
esc1234
6 years ago

The greek media are reporting that greek entry was “destroyed” by the ukrainians because nothing of what fokas had thought could be done and also because, they “didnt like him” because he was directing Russia last year.Furthermore, an official statement by the greek delegation concerning the many problems they face. I know that you try to stay positive but since malta and many other countries have faced severe problems with the production, you could write something about it.

Leaf
Leaf
6 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

That’s Greek media trying to cover up for a horrible 2013 Canada B-side tune.

anonymous91
anonymous91
6 years ago

i am still voting for Romania, but the odds look quite good for them and Bulgaria i think, Netherlands also looking good third place in the odds

but i think there are like 7 open places, of the other countries anyone can qualify i think

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

In Semi-final I predicted 8/10. I also think that Bulgaria will win this Semi easily. This is the only certain thing for me, expect one or two other entries, because the overall quality is very much balanced in general. These are the ones who will qualify in my opinion: – Serbia: The song is strong, contemporary, well delivered and Serbia benefits from bloc voting and diaspora. – Romania – no comments – Netherlands – That has grown so much. The studio version is very average at best, but the girls completely transform it in the life performance. Will appeal to… Read more »

WSUFAD
WSUFAD
6 years ago

BREAKING NEWS! Bulgarian participant Kristian Kostov was in Crimea in 2014! How could he be in the contest and Russia was rejected? What a shame Ukraine! The worst Eurovision ever!

Maria Teresa
Maria Teresa
6 years ago
Reply to  WSUFAD

Oh, give up with the Russo-Ukrainian bulsh*t. We had enough of this!!!

WSUFAD
WSUFAD
6 years ago
Reply to  Maria Teresa

No! It’s shame of this year contest! Ukraine would be sanctioned by EBU and not Russia.

Maniac
Maniac
6 years ago
Reply to  WSUFAD

We dont miss Russia , so its not the shame , now shut the fk up about this Ukraine-Russia nonsence

WSUFAD
WSUFAD
6 years ago
Reply to  Maniac

Shut up fk you fk noob

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  WSUFAD

Classy.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago
Reply to  WSUFAD

Julia entered via an illigal border, Bulgaria (and Armenia) didn’t and they where investigated.

Ugnius(LT)
Ugnius(LT)
6 years ago
Reply to  WSUFAD

Kosov entered Crimea via Ukraine, while Samoilova (you still think she has nothing with politics ? Well, guess who returned back to Crimea on Tuesday) entered it via Russia. It has been said a million times before, so you should try harder while searching your brain :))

Chicken Kyiv???
Chicken Kyiv???
6 years ago

Think Croatia will be a surprise qualifier.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

You could be right. I graded him as barely missing the cut. If he fails, it will probably be because he reminds a lot of people of Axel Hirsoux’s “Mother” (Belgium 2014)

Stormbolt55
Stormbolt55
6 years ago

Former eastern block countries & Balkan countries make up the majority of 2nd semi final . The televote for the Netherlands won’t be high there . I’m not even sure that the juries marked it very high . It will probably qualify but definitely won’t be as high as some people think .

Magneto
Magneto
6 years ago
Reply to  Stormbolt55

Why? Because according to ur Eurovision experience??? Dont make me laugh.. the balkans are only 5 countries. All the other ones i. This semifinals are not. We are talking about 13 countries. Is just simple math…. in additionno one in this semi has the vocals of Og3ne… Bulgary is the closest one and Denmark. Nobody else… maybe Croatia…

Stormbolt55
Stormbolt55
6 years ago
Reply to  Magneto

Croatia , FYR Macedonia, Serbia … Bakans
Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia , Belarus … former USSR
Bulgaria, Hungary , Romania … former “eastern block”

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Stormbolt55

Estonia and Lithuania both awarded the Netherlands 12 points in the 2014 final, it can happen.

LAHAYANO
LAHAYANO
6 years ago
Reply to  Stormbolt55

As did Hungary btw.

mateo
mateo
6 years ago
Reply to  Stormbolt55

You seem to be living in the late 90’s early 00’s. In the last decade countries have voted for numbers from the other end of Europe. The only two nations always giving each other 12 points are Greece and Cyprus. That is the only prediction i dare to make with some certainty for Saturday night.
Who will qualify tonight? the 10 acts that move the voting nations most. Sometimes that is a good song, or a great voice other times it turnes out to be a particularly attractive performer or a surprising act.

AM
AM
6 years ago

I hope that LITHUANIA will qualify!!! They were amazing on the rehearsals

Steve Gray
Steve Gray
6 years ago

If Ireland are not in the final with such a beautiful song and the likes of Moldova make it through its just plain wrong .

Henry
Henry
6 years ago
Reply to  Steve Gray

I’m gonna vote for Ireland tonight, but i have a bad feeling he’s not gonna qualify..

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Henry

Just do your part and vote. If everyone just voted for whom they love the most regardless of betting odds, things would be much better. Many people just think it’s useless and pass the voting. Actually, it’s very similar with presidential elections…