Mark Allen V Chris Wakelin - 24/04/25 13.00, 25/04/25 10.00 & 25/04/25 19.00
It's fair to say despite being at the top of the sport for many years, Mark Allen's record at the Crucible is below par. Having won both the UK Championship (2022) & The Masters (2018) he is yet to reach a final at the Crucible, it has to be seen as a disappointment for the 39-year-old.
Today he begins his second round having seen off up-and-coming Chinese player Fan Zhengyi 10-6 in round 1. It was an impressive performance that included two centuries (105 & 102) and a run of 6 frames on the bounce that ultimately was the winning of the match.
It no-doubt was a tricky draw against a dangerous opponent but he showed his title credentials putting the 24-year-old to the sword. Today he faces a more established, all-rounder in Chris Wakelin.
In arguable one of the results of the first round he defeated world number 9 and in-form Neil Robertson 10-8. In truth, taking a 7-2 lead after the first session was huge and in the end was the winning of the match as the Australian left himself too much to do.
His shoot-out victory in 2023 has completely transformed the Englishman into a very dangerous opponent capable of pulling off victories against the world's best. He will have no fear facing Allen and even defeated him in the 2024 English Open quarter-final (5-2).
I feel like Allen's experience of the longer format matches along with his significant better H2H record over Wakelin will be enough to see him progress.
Prediction: Allen 13-9
John Higgins V Xiao Guodong - 24/04/25 19.00, 25/04/25 14.30, 26/04/25 10.00
The pair will know each other's games inside out as this will be their 3rd meeting in the last month with the Scotsman coming out on top both times (10-3 & 6-5).
Higgins impressively came through his first round battle with Joe O'Connor 10-7 while Guodong convincingly saw off Matthew Selt 10-4 making two centuries (120 & 104).
He has really improved this season and winning the Wuhan Open seems to have given him the boost that was needed to make the next step in his career. The 36-year-old has also reached his highest ever ranking (14) and is seeded for the Crucible for the first time in his career.
It's no secret that 3-time world champion Higgins has regained his form that he was missing over the past couple of seasons. Having picked up 2 ranking titles this season (World Open & Tour Championship) he has found himself back in the conversation of possibly claiming these top prizes again.
I feel Guodong has the ability to put Higgins under a lot of pressure in this match but something tells me the Scotsman will dig in and narrowly grind out the result.
Prediction: 13-11 Higgins
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