Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship match.
In Riyadh, a short but high-status tournament with a very strong field is under way. In the quarter-finals, Judd Trump and Mark Williams meet in a match where not only technique but also psychology are important. The race to four frames leaves almost no room for error.
Judd Trump
The World No. 1 is still without a title this season, although he consistently reaches the latter stages. Two recently lost finals have left a psychological mark, but they are not a sign of poor form: the 6:2 win over Zhao Xintong and two centuries against Mark Selby show how strong his scoring is. The problem is inconsistency within matches. The defeat to Wu Yize after leading 4:0 is another indication that he does not always approach the deciding frames with full confidence. However, the motivation in Riyadh is huge: the prize fund is high and there is also the chance to take revenge for the defeat to Williams at this event a year ago.
Mark Williams
Mark Williams has had less match practice: after his victory at the Xi'an Grand Prix he dropped out of the tour due to illness. Since then he has played only two full matches. The 5:6 match against Selby commands respect: He was in front, put together three frames in a row, controlled the tempo confidently and could have closed out the match. But the lack of rhythm was noticeable – in the key moments he surrendered the initiative. His current form is uncertain, but his break-building level and the consistency of his safety shots are still there.
Judd Trump vs Mark Williams Prediction
Both players have aggressive playing styles and can build a heavy visit from a single chance. Trump is currently highly motivated, while Williams is tactically stable and awkward for Judd in terms of playing style. The format is short, but not short enough to break the rhythm: we expect swings in scoring runs and at least two long frames. Williams rarely collapses in high-tempo snooker, and in his current form Trump almost always concedes at least a couple of frames because of tactical lapses. Everything points to a long match.
