Adam Williams presents his prediction for the World Snooker Championship match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will face Si Jiahui in the quarter-finals of the World Championship, with “The Pearl” aiming to cause a major upset by defeating the seven-time world champion.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
The seven-time world champion hasn’t competed in a tournament since December 2024, when he lost to Barry Hawkins in the first round of the UK Championship. There were uncertainties surrounding whether Ronnie would be able to demonstrate his usual high standard of play after a prolonged absence. However, Ronnie gradually regained form, comfortably defeating Ali Carter 10-4, and then performed considerably better in his next match against Pang Junxu, making two centuries and ten half-centuries. Ronnie is gaining momentum, improving with each passing match, and many observers are already anticipating his appearance in the final. Ronnie’s next opponent, should he win, will be Zhao Xintong or Chris Wakelin, a less challenging draw than the prospect of facing John Higgins or Judd Trump.
Si Jiahui
The 22-year-old “The Pearl” is one of the brightest young talents in world snooker. Si made his main tour debut in 2019 and has rapidly progressed from a rookie to a top-16 player in just a few seasons, thanks to his fearless, attacking style of play and his composure in high-pressure situations. The highlight of Si’s career to date came at the 2023 World Championship, where Jiahui reached the semi-finals, leading 14-5 against eventual champion Luca Brecel before ultimately losing 17-15. In his first match at the Crucible, Si beat David Gilbert 10-6, making five half-centuries. In the second round, Si narrowly defeated Ben Woollaston 13-10, making one century and five half-centuries.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Si Jiahui Prediction
Ronnie and Si have already met this season, in the quarter-finals of the Saudi Arabian Masters, with Si emerging victorious 6-4. However, we do not expect a repeat of that result. Ronnie is well-motivated and determined to showcase his best snooker, while Si is not a player who typically adopts a tactical approach. Instead, he favours an attacking style in an attempt to outscore Ronnie. However, Si made a number of unforced errors in his earlier matches, and we believe O’Sullivan will exploit these mistakes, ultimately reaching the semi-finals thanks to his superior class.
