Adam Williams presents his prediction for the World Snooker Championship match.
Wang Yuchen and Hossein Vafaei are set to play for a place at the Crucible. While Vafaei has featured in Sheffield for the past three years, this could be Wang’s debut at the most prestigious tournament on the snooker calendar.
Wang Yuchen
Wang joined the tour in 2016, dropped off after two seasons and only returned this season. Over those three years on tour, Yuchen reached the last 32 on three occasions, with his best performance being the fourth qualifying round for the UK Championship, where Wang lost to Barry Hawkins (6-3). In his first three matches this week, Wang beat Brian Cini (10-5) and Robert Milkins (10-5), but didn’t play Graeme Dott, as Dott was suspended due to a high-profile scandal. While Wang only made two half-centuries in the match against Cini, Yuchen compiled two centuries and five half-centuries against Milkins.
Hossein Vafaei
The “Prince of Persia” has played in the three previous World Championships, managing just one victory – Hossein defeated Ding Junhui (10-6) in 2023. This season, Vafaei has only reached the quarter-finals in one tournament. At the World Grand Prix, Hossein defeated Si Jiahui (4-3) and Xu Si (4-3), before losing to Judd Trump (5-0). In his first qualifying match, Hossein beat Duane Jones (10-7) and is a firm favourite in the match against Wang.
Wang Yuchen vs Hossein Vafaei Prediction
Hossein has plenty of experience in long-distance matches, having reached the Crucible three times. He’s also capable of adapting his style, making him a very uncomfortable opponent. Vafaei rarely, if ever, has Wang beaten top 32 players, and Wang’s entry into “Judgment Day” was aided by Graeme Dott’s withdrawal. Wang is an inconsistent player, and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to maintain a high level throughout the match. Most likely, he’ll experience a slump, which Vafaei will look to exploit. We reckon Hossein will try to seize the initiative from the outset and prevent his opponent from settling into the match, creating long, tactical frames in which he’ll hold the advantage. We’re predicting a comfortable 10-5 victory for Hossein.
