Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Welsh Open snooker match.
Ali Carter
Ali Carter is back in the top 16 and is currently ranked 21st in the season rankings, which means he will be in the Grand Prix, where the top 32 players of the current season will compete. In the first match, Carter defeated Rory Thor (4:0), but the victory was only comfortable in terms of the score. Rory Thor had chances in every frame, and two frames were particularly close, so Carter will need to maintain at least the same level of play. This season, Carter has achieved only one notable result—his victory in the Championship League—but that was at the very start of the season. In other tournaments, he has failed to progress beyond the last-16 stage.
Hossein Vafaei
However, Hossein Vafaei has yet to secure his place in the Grand Prix. The Iranian is currently ranked 31st, but the gap between him and his closest rivals is very small, meaning he must fight for every match to earn a few more ranking points. Like Carter, Vafaei performed well in the Championship League, earning most of his ranking points there. However, in other tournaments, he has been eliminated in the second or third round. In the first round of the Welsh Open, Vafaei defeated Fan Zhengyi (4:2), but every frame was competitive, and Fan had just as many chances to win.
Ali Carter vs Hossein Vafaei Prediction
In the match between Hossein Vafaei and Ali Carter, we expect a tight contest in every frame, as neither player has demonstrated outstanding break-building form. Both players will have their opportunities, but neither has shown the composure to fully capitalise. Vafaei has greater motivation, as he needs ranking points to secure his place in the Grand Prix, but this pressure could work against him. We anticipate a close match and would recommend betting on over 5.5 total frames.
