Adam Williams presents his prediction for the World Snooker Championship match.
Pang Junxu will try to cause a sensation by defeating his idol, Ronnie O’Sullivan, in the second round of the World Championship.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
The seven-time World Champion has been absent from tournament play since December 2024, when he lost first to Barry Hawkins in the first round of the BC Championship, and then to Mark Allen in the semi-finals of the Snooker Championship. This long layoff prompted questions as to whether Ronnie would be able to showcase his high class in his opening match against long-time rival Ali Carter, particularly after more than five months without competitive snooker. In the initial frames against Carter, Ronnie made a lot of mistakes, but Ali was unable to capitalise fully on the opportunities presented. Ronnie won the first session 5-4, and the next day he didn’t allow Carter to win a single frame, securing a confident 10-4 victory.
Pang Junxu
The 25-year-old Pang has been demonstrating impressive form this season. Junxu reached the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open, losing 6-4 to Kyren Wilson, and also reached the quarter-finals of the World Open and Shanghai Masters. In the World Championship qualifiers, Pang defeated Ashley Carty 10-2 and Jamie Jones 10-6, making 14 big breaks across those matches. In his first-round match at the Crucible, Pang faced Zhang Anda, coping well with the pressure and playing effectively despite trailing for much of the contest. Ultimately, Pang displayed meaningful cue ball control, enabling him to secure his first Crucible victory at the third attempt.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Pang Junxu Prediction
Ronnie and Pang have previously met at the Crucible, in 2023, with Ronnie emerging victorious 10-7. We anticipate a similar outcome, predicting a comfortable win for O’Sullivan. Ronnie will be highly motivated to perform well in Sheffield, while Pang is unlikely to impose a tactical game but will instead attempt to beat his idol in an open, attacking match. To cause a major upset, Pang will need to dominate at least 90% of the tactical duels and hope for a rare day when Ronnie makes mistakes. However, we think O’Sullivan will outplay his opponent with his superior class. Nevertheless, Pang is sure to show some great shots and make some big breaks.
