Adam Williams presents his prediction for the UK Championship snooker match.
Chris Wakelin
Chris Wakelin is currently in the best form of his career. The 32-year-old Englishman has entered the top 16, and this season, he reached the final of the International Championship, where he lost to Ding Junhui 10-7, and the semi-finals of the English Open, where Wakelin lost 6-1 to Neil Robertson. In his first match in York, Chris defeated Matthew Selt 6-4, making only one good break of 75. The match was full of mistakes from both sides, and with such a performance, Chris will not progress further; he needs to reduce the number of mistakes, or Kyren Wilson will punish him immediately.
Kyren Wilson
Kyren comfortably defeated Stephen Maguire 6-0 in his opening match. Kyren made only two good breaks, but his opponent did not capitalise on Wilson's mistakes. This season, Kyren has already won tournaments in Xi'an and Belfast and is demonstrating very solid play. Wilson is the main contender to reach the semi-finals from his side of the draw. He has previously reached the finals of the World Championship and the Masters, and at the UK Championship, he reached the semi-finals in 2021. Wilson certainly aims to continue his winning streak by clinching the title in York.
Chris Wakelin vs Kyren Wilson Prediction
Of course, Kyren is the favourite in the upcoming match, but Chris Wakelin will not give up easily. Wakelin has already defeated Ding Junhui, Mark Allen, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, and Xiao Guodong this season. However, as the tournament progresses, the tension will only increase, making it more challenging for Chris to maintain concentration and seize his opportunities. We won't bet on the winner of the match, as there may be surprises, but we believe Wilson will make the highest break in the match. Wakelin is not yet a player who can consistently make centuries, whereas Wilson is much more adept at it.