Today is a blockbuster Super Saturday with the Baltics locking in their choices for Eurovision 2022. I’ll be detailing the bets I made for tonight.

Ukraine – Vidbir:

Ukraine is known for it’s chaotic national finals and today looks set to be no different. I backed Alina with her song, “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” @ 2.45. This song has elements of Jamala’s “1944”. With the current situation I also feel like this song will connect even more with the audience. Alina benefits from the pimp slot and her connections with Jamala and Tina Karol are well known. There are some concerns about the televote though, a minor hate campaign has brewed against her with rumours spreading she has visited Crimea in the past. To cover for this I backed Wellboy @18.5, he looks to be the televote favourite with his song trending on Youtube at #2. I still expect the juries to push through Alina.

Latvia – Supernova:

This is probably the toughest of tonight’s selections to call. Aminata only finished 6th in the televoting in the semifinals, however we know that she was performing from home whilst ill. The producers are looking to push her through by giving her the pimp slot. The jury is also back in Supernova with a 50% stake, which is convenient. I am expecting Aminata’s televote score to improve tonight as she can elevate the song even more live in the studio. There are a number of novelty songs which I can see splitting the vote with each other. All in all, I think the producers will do their job and help Aminata over the line.

Recommended bet:

Back Aminata to win Supernova @ 2.6 (Smarkets)

Lithuania – Pabandom iš naujo! 2022:

This selections looks like a done deal for Monika Liu. She is by far the biggest name and will rack up a huge televote score. In addition to this, we know through the semifinal results that she is loved by the jury. I was luckily able to get Monika @ 1.84 on Smarkets. I would recommend still backing her at a short price as I consider this a done deal.

Estonia – Eesti Laul 2022:

Stefan seems the runaway winner with his country-twinged pop song “Hope.” This is by far the strongest entry for Eurovision, I think it would get a respectable placing. However Stefan’s odds of 1.3 to win Eesti Laul seem too short, this is a similar placing to Elina’s La Forza. I did manage to back Stefan @ 2.2 on Betfair Exchange.

The biggest challenger to Stefan in my opinion is Anna Sahlene with her anthemic cliche pop song, “Champion.” Anna is by far the strongest performer and she elevates her song to another level. She is accompanied by 2 famous Estonian backing singers, who should help her televote. There is also a 20 year narrative at play with Anna having represented Estonia in 2002. I expect this to come 2nd.

Recommended bets:

Back Stefan to win Eesti Laul @1.5 (Cool Bet) 3 pts

Back Anna Sahlene to win Eesti Laul @ 24 (Smarkets) 1 pt