Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Welsh Open snooker match.
Artemijs Zizins
Artemijs Zizins and Farakh Ajaib are not far apart in the rankings: Zizins is in 97th place, while Ajaib is in 112th. However, Artemijs appears to be the stronger player, as reflected in the seasonal rankings. Zizins has earned twice as many ranking points and currently sits in 84th place, whereas Ajaib remains in 112th. Artemijs has claimed several victories against higher-ranked opponents. He has defeated Matthew Selt (5:4), David Grace (6:3), and Robbie Williams twice (5:3 and 4:2). Additionally, he has faced Mark Selby twice, losing both encounters in tight battles (5:4 and 5:3). These are commendable results, and at just 18 years old, Artemijs is demonstrating a strong and promising level of play.
Farakh Ajaib
Farakh Ajaib, on the other hand, has managed just one win over a top-64 player, beating Elliot Slessor (4:1). In his other matches, he has struggled to produce significant breaks. Notably, he was defeated by women's world champion Bai Yu Lu (6:4) in the UK Championship qualifying round. Following that loss, Farakh suffered three more defeats before securing a 5:3 win over Ashley Carty. His break-building has been underwhelming, with Zizins having recorded almost twice as many 50+ breaks. Given this, we consider the Latvian player the favourite for this match.
Artemijs Zizins vs Farakh Ajaib Prediction
Although Zizins is only 18 and lacks the experience of Ajaib, who made his debut in 2020, from the matches we have seen, Artemijs looks more composed and solid than the Pakistani player. This match is likely to end 4:2 or 4:3, as both competitors rarely lose without winning a frame. We also expect several frames to be decided on the colours. However, we will give the edge to Artemijs Zizins due to his more consistent performances throughout the season.
