Adam Williams presents his prediction for the World Snooker Championship match.
Lei Peifan and Zhao Xintong, each coming off contrasting first-round victories, will now compete for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
Lei Peifan
The 21-year-old Chinese talent is enjoying a stellar season, marked by a remarkable ascent in the rankings. Starting the season ranked 92nd in the world, Lei now stands at 39th. He qualified for the main draw of the UK Championship but lost in the first round to Zhang Anda 6-3. However, he then reached the final of the Scottish Open, defeating Wu Yize 9-5. This impressive form earned him not only a significant rankings boost but also a place in the Champion of Champions. In the qualifying rounds for the World Championship, Peifan overcame David Lilley 10-6 and Gao Yang 10-9, compiling 16 significant breaks across those matches. In the first round at the Crucible, the debutant caused a major upset, knocking out the defending champion, Kyren Wilson, with nine half-centuries to his name.
Zhao Xintong
The 28-year-old Chinese snooker star, who reached a peak of 6th in the world rankings three years ago, has returned to the professional game after a period of suspension. Winner of two ranking titles (UK Championship 2021 and German Masters 2022), Zhao spent this season competing as an amateur but convincingly won four events on the Q-Tour, securing a tour card for the next two seasons. On his path to the Crucible, Zhao Xintong defeated Cheung Ka Wai 10-4, Long Zehuang 10-8, Lyu Haotian 10-4, and Elliot Slessor 10-8. In his first-round match, Xintong convincingly defeated last year’s finalist, Jak Jones, 10-4. It was a dominant performance from Zhao, who recorded one century break and eight half-centuries.
Lei Peifan vs Zhao Xintong Prediction
This match is likely to showcase Zhao’s overall superiority, as he appears to possess the edge in most areas of the game. Xintong excels in open play and is a prolific break-builder, while also boasting excellent long potting skills. We anticipate that Xintong will prevail due to his higher class and greater power, although Peifan may manage to take several frames thanks to his disciplined approach. Therefore, we are predicting a comfortable 13-7 victory for Zhao.
