Adam Williams presents his prediction for the English Open snooker match.
Zhang Anda
Chris Wakelin beat Joe Perry 4-2 in the first round of the English Open with breaks of 68 and 63, while Zhang Anda beat Mark Davis 4-3 in the deciding frame, making five 50+ breaks. It was only Zhang's sixth match of the season, while it was Wakelin's 14th. Zhang rarely plays; in Xi'an, he lost to Graeme Dott 5-2, at the Saudi Arabian Masters he smashed Ben Woollaston 5-0 with four total clearances, and in the next round, Anda lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-5. Zhang is currently in the top 16 and needs to confirm this status by playing more often and earning ranking points to maintain his ranking.
Chris Wakelin
Chris Wakelin is ranked 24th, and this is the best achievement of his career. Last season, Chris won the Shoot-Out and reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open. This season, Wakelin played in the Championship League, won all three qualifiers, but in Xi'an, he lost in the second round to Mark Williams 5-2, and in Riyadh, he lost in the second round to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-4. Wakelin could face another second-round exit.
Zhang Anda vs Chris Wakelin Prediction
Zhang is stronger now, but in short-format matches, Wakelin can pose a challenge. The best-of-7 format is more suitable for lower-ranking players. We think Zhang will win, but Chris will not give up easily. We expect there will be six or seven frames, with Anda emerging victorious.
