Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Arabia Masters snooker match.
The second quarter-final of the Saudi Arabia Masters will see Kyren Wilson face Ronnie O’Sullivan. It will be their second consecutive meeting at this stage — just two weeks ago they clashed in Shanghai, where Wilson triumphed 6:3 and went on to lift the trophy. This time, both have reached the last eight by different routes: Kyren eased past Si Jiahui (6:3), while Ronnie produced a stunning comeback against Chang Bingyu, overturning a 2:5 deficit to win 6:5.
Kyren Wilson
Wilson is in outstanding form. At the Shanghai Masters, he showcased consistency and heavy scoring, with breaks of 70, 70, 67, 77 and 73 in his last match. He has won the last six head-to-heads against Ronnie across all competitions, including the Championship League. His confidence, attacking style and clinical finishing make him one of the prime contenders for the title in Saudi Arabia.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
The seven-time world champion opened his campaign with a nervy win over Chang Bingyu. Trailing 2:5, he shifted into top gear, making two century breaks — including a superb 125 — and snatching victory in the deciding frame. Despite errors and patches of inconsistency, Ronnie still has the ability to produce shots that change the course of a match. The recent head-to-head record with Wilson is against him, but Ronnie has a proven knack for raising his game at crucial moments.
Kyren Wilson vs Ronnie O’Sullivan Prediction
Although Wilson has dominated recent encounters, such winning streaks against O’Sullivan rarely last forever. Coming through a stern opening test has given Ronnie an emotional lift, and his ability to elevate his game at major events is well known. With full focus and control in the safety exchanges, he has what it takes to reverse the trend. O’Sullivan is likely to win, using his experience, tactical versatility and ability to take his chances in the key moments — with the added motivation of revenge, which is always a strong driver for Ronnie.
