Adam Williams presents his prediction for the 2025 Masters Snooker match.
Luca Brecel
Luca Brecel seems to be regaining form in recent tournaments, showcasing glimpses of the play that led him to victory at the 2023 World Championship. In Glasgow, Brecel reached the quarter-finals before losing to Xiao Guodong (5-2), and at the Snooker Championship, he advanced to the final, eventually losing to Mark Allen (5-1). However, Brecel started the season poorly, similar to his performances over the past two years. He is currently ranked 8th, but in the provisional rankings for the end of the season, Brecel has fallen to 54th place. If Luca doesn't turn things around, he will have to fight to improve his ranking once again. His track record at the Masters is also not stellar. Luca has reached Alexandra Palace four times, but he has only won a single match, against Mark Allen (6-5) in 2019. In the remaining three tournaments, Brecel lost in the first round.
Chris Wakelin
Chris Wakelin, conversely, is enjoying a very successful season. He has qualified for the Masters for the first time, having never been close to the top 16 before this year. Following his runs to the final of the Northern Ireland Open 2023, the International Championship 2024, and the semi-final of the English Open 2024, Chris has claimed the 16th spot, surpassing Neil Robertson to qualify for the Masters. Chris prepared thoroughly for the tournament during the Christmas break. Wakelin participated in three Championship League groups, while Brecel's last tournament match before Christmas saw him defeat Iulian Boiko in the World Open qualifier.
Luca Brecel vs Chris Wakelin Prediction
Predicting the winner of this game is challenging, as anything can happen. Brecel might dominate and win 6-1, or he could crumble after a few errors and lose by the same score. However, attention should be drawn to Brecel's break-building skills. Recently, Luca has struggled to make centuries; although he has impressive individual shots, he often fails to sustain his breaks. This season, Brecel has only made four centuries, which is relatively low. As a result, we will bet on Brecel not making a century in the upcoming match.
