Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Scottish Open snooker match.
Chris Wakelin
Chris Wakelin is playing the best snooker of his career. Usually, Chris's best achievement in a season was just one quarter-final, and the fight to stay on tour was routine. But how things changed after winning the 2023 Shoot-Out. That victory gave Chris confidence, and last year he reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open, and this season he reached the final of the International Championship. Wakelin has already entered the top 16 and is getting used to his new role. This season, Chris has already beaten Mark Allen, Zhang Anda, Ding Junhui, Shaun Murphy, Mark J. Williams, and John Higgins. These are players Wakelin rarely beat before. Now Chris is constantly fighting with the best players in the world and reaching the later stages of tournaments. In the initial matches of the Scottish Open, Wakelin beat Scott Donaldson (4-0) and Zhang Anda (4-2) with a few good breaks.
Xing Zihao
Xing Zihao received a tour card last season and is now trying to collect as many points as possible to stay on the tour. Xing gained entry to the tour through the CBSA qualifying events along with Jiang Jun and Long Zehuang, and everyone is in the danger zone now. Xing and Long are in the last 16 of the Scottish Open, but it might not have been. Xing was supposed to play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round, but Ronnie predictably withdrew at the last moment. In the next match, Xing beat Dean Young (4-3), despite being down 2-0 and 3-2. Against Chris Wakelin, Xing has very little chance. He does not have a high-scoring record; this season he has only defeated one serious opponent—Stuart Bingham (5-1) in the Wuhan Open qualifier.
Chris Wakelin vs Xing Zihao Prediction
We don't see any serious problems for Chris Wakelin in this match. We think he will win confidently.