Whoever gets the first open chance tends to take too much here. Gilbert began the China Open by thrashing Ding Junhui (6:1), while Wu Yize struggled against Yao Pengcheng until the deciding frame (6:5). That is why the line on the Chinese player looks more cautious than it should: one day is having too much influence on the assessment of the whole matchup.
David Gilbert
Gilbert is genuinely dangerous at the moment. Before beating Ding, he got past Ashley Hugill (5:4) and reached the Championship League final in the summer. But it is difficult to take the 6:1 match as his usual level. Wu will not forgive mistakes, and his opponent's long runs will leave the Englishman in his chair more often.
Wu Yize
Wu Yize has the higher ceiling when it comes to scoring. At the Shanghai Masters, he beat Si Jiahui (6:2), finishing the match with three consecutive centuries, then got past Shaun Murphy (6:5) and only lost to Judd Trump (6:10) in the semi-finals. Wu also won the World Championship in the spring. Over a best-of-11, that matters more than one difficult start.
David Gilbert vs Wu Yize Prediction
The market appears to be placing too much emphasis on the latest scores. Gilbert can take a few frames, but Wu is superior in terms of break-building and current level. If the Chinese player takes the initiative after the opening exchanges, a margin of at least two frames looks like a viable scenario. The bet is Wu Yize -1.5 frames.
