Right, because I’m notoriously fantastic at these, I’m going to predict every qualifier from the world qualifiers. With the rather trim brackets, I’ll quickly run through my predictions for the earlier rounds, and go into some depth for the last round. All images are from Wikipedia, as it was the only place I could find a sufficiently small yet clear image.
(Oh, and there will be references to the tour survival battle in this. You can find loads of Tour Survival blogs online, I’m not doing one this year due to time constraints)
Bracket 1
Tip: If you’re having a bet, bet on Highfield to have a decider. Of the 16 Best of 7 or longer matches he’s played this season, 7 have gone the full length.
Straight in then with the draw that’s caused the most arguments regarding the validity of the draw. My short take on it is that I don’t care either way. If this was deliberate, then it’s good marketing (if a little crusty). If it’s not deliberate (which is entirely possible, I think the odds are around 1/32, don’t take that as gospel though), it’s mighty convenient.
Hendry 3-6 White, Xu 6-4 White, Zhou 6-1 Xu
Surety 3-6 Fan, Highfield 6-3 Fan, Slessor 6-5 Highfield
Bracket 1 Final: Elliot Slessor vs. Zhou Yuelong
This is a match I would happily watch two sessions of. Two young players who look to have a very big future in the game, and two players who have improved massively in recent times. I remember people talking about whether Zhou really had the backbone to win a tournament after his 9-0 loss to Neil Robertson in the European Masters final in Austria last January. And honestly, he didn’t. Not then anyway. Now though, he’s developing that steel.
Elliot is all backbone meanwhile (not literally, I don’t want a biologist coming on here explaining anatomy to me, I have made my own anatomy book before). There’s not many players who will keep playing their game no matter the scoreline, but Sless is one (he showed that at the Crucible last summer). If Zhou has any mental weaknesses, someone like Slessor could find him out.
Bracket 1 Prediction: Elliot Slessor 7-10 Zhou Yuelong
Bracket 2
Tip: Don’t bet on Matt Selt at all. He’s so unpredictable that it isn’t worth it.
Doherty 6-2 Walker, Bond 6-4 Doherty, Selt 6-2 Bond
Lines Jr. 6-4 Emery, Lines Jr. 6-4 Dale, Donaldson 6-3 Lines Jr.
Bracket 2 Final: Matthew Selt vs. Scott Donaldson
Well this could clearly go either way. Make no mistake, both of these two can beat anybody on their day. I think Selt’s game has a higher ceiling, but I think that Donaldson finds his game more often. So without sounding like I’m sitting on the fence, it will all depend on whether Selt finds his game. If he plays to his best, very few players in the world would beat him. If he’s at his worst, I could beat him (and I’m an awful player). Ultimately I think he’s going to be playing with more fire this time after his showing on Judgement Day last year, and it’s going to be a second successive failure at the final hurdle for Donaldson. (seriously can we get these guys some nicknames? I’m open to suggestions!)
Bracket 2 Prediction: Matthew Selt 10 – 4 Scott Donaldson
Bracket 3
Tip: If Jak Jones ends up facing Barry Pinches, feel free to set aside an entire weekend. It isn’t going to be pretty and it sure as hell ain’t going to be quick
Fraser Patrick 6-1 Leo Fernandez, Joe O’Connor 6-3 Fraser Patrick, Robert Milkins 6-2 Joe O’Connor
Barry Pinches 6-2 Jamie Wilson, Jak Jones 6-5 Barry Pinches, Kurt Maflin 5-6 Jak Jones
Bracket 3 Final: Robert Milkins vs. Jak Jones
Now this is a difficult one to predict. Not just because of how difficult a player Jak is, but because of the one real fault in Rob’s game for me – he gets dragged into long safety battles too easily. Sometimes he’s overcautious and allows his opponent to start dictating play. You don’t want to do that in a long match, especially against someone who already has a reputation for slowing the pace down somewhat. Make no mistake however, Jones can go full aggressive, with seven centuries this season and a high break of 125. I think this will be closer than you might expect, but ultimately, the Milkman always delivers.
Bracket 3 Prediction: Robert Milkins 10 – 8 Jak Jones
BRACKET 4
Tip: Soheil is in good form and really attacks the game. Back him to get a couple of centuries.
Gao 6-4 Davison, Lyu 3-6 Gao, Saengkam 6-1 Gao
Vahedi 6-0 Leclerq, Chang 4-6 Vahedi, Ford 6-3 Vahedi
Bracket 4 Final: Noppon Saengkham vs. Tom Ford
Two men who qualified last year. It’s always going to be a fun match when two players as composed as these two are in the balls, because you just know you’re going to get a hatful of points being scored. Noppon has improved a lot over the past couple of years and is just so composed in the balls these days. His safety game is also excellent, and that’s where I think he may have Ford beat. But Ford is a century machine, and can blow you away with the greatest of ease. I’m feeling a decider here. It just would.
Bracket 4 Prediction: Noppon Saengkham 10 – 9 Tom Ford
Bracket 5
Tip: Reanne lost 6-3 to Hicks last year. Expect it to be closer this time.
Hicks 5-6 Evans, Sharav 6-3 Evans, Dott 6-0 Sharav
Castle 4-6 Benzey, Tian 6-1 Benzey, Akani 3-6 Tian
Bracket 5 Final: Graeme Dott vs. Tian Pengfei
Right, this could be interesting. We all know how good Dotty is, and he’s got a pretty great qualifying record. But his season has been extremely unremarkable, with only a single venture beyond the Last 64 in ranking events (I was as shocked as you likely are). And that will give some hope to his opponent. Sadly for Tian, his record isn’t any better, and in fact he’s not been beyond the Last 32 at all. Tian is incredibly inconsistent, but when his game comes together he’s a fantastic player. He’s just going to wish it wasn’t Graeme Dott he was up against, because the Pocket Dynamo is as durable and canny as they come.
Bracket 5 Prediction: Graeme Dott 10 – 5 Tian Pengfei
Bracket 6
Tip: Amiri’s not beaten another professional player on tour. I know it sounds harsh, but don’t be afraid to tip a 6-0. And look at me ignore my own advice
Lilley 6-1 Amiri, Jones 6-2 Lilley, Jones 6-3 Holt
Sargeant 6-4 Kenna, Higginson 6-2 Sargeant, Li 6-4 Higginson
Bracket 6 Final: Jamie Jones vs. Li Hang
This is going to be a hard one to predict. Just in case you were out of the loop, Jamie Jones was suspended from the tour in October 2018 for failing to report a match-fixing approach, and eventually banned from playing for a year. This suspension lead to Jones dropping off the tour, but he’s since come through Q School and has earned the 22nd most this season, which has catapulted him straight up to 69th in the world, meaning that he could end up having a significant play in who stays on tour. He’s come back more focused and with a chip on his shoulder, which has powered him through the season.
Li Hang’s also had a very good season, reaching the Semis at the Scottish Open, and largely outplaying Ronnie O’Sullivan in that Semi-Final. He’s very much a confidence player – when he’s feeling good about his game he’ll play very well. When he’s got issues with his game he’ll struggle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an “average” performance from him. But he’s got a very good safety game, and while it’s not talked about much, he can easily take the game away quickly.
Both of these two are good to watch, and are very even tempered on the table. It’s not a match which is going to be decided in the first few frames, it’s likely to be nip and tuck the entire way. It’s not likely, but I’m hoping this match is streamed (presuming my predictions are correct which… well we all know the chances of that), because it’ll be a very entertaining clash. As for the prediction? A decider. Toss a coin. Heads says Jones, Tails says Li.
Bracket 6 Prediction: Jamie Jones 9 – 10 Li Hang
Bracket 7
Tip: Erm… not a lot to go off here. How about betting on one of Lawler and Borg withdrawing their pension before their match finishes?
Zhao J 4-6 Muir, Robertson 6-3 Muir, Lu 6-2 Robertson
Lawler 6-3 Borg, Yuan 6-2 Lawler, Liang 6-3 Yuan
Bracket 7 Final: Lu Ning vs. Liang Wenbo
Two players who have had very different seasons here. Lu Ning has had the season of his career, and is quickly becoming very much a hard player to beat. He’s not the most graceful to watch, but there’s something of a scrapper about him. He’ll fight for every point, and his form in the past couple of years has seen him go from 65th in the world to 32nd in less than two years (he’s now ranked 36).
Liang Wenbo is a very confusing player. I know I keep saying it, but he is so good. The only thing is, he sometimes lacks the application. Everything is there in his game, it’s just that he has a tendency to lose parts of his game, and he takes on more than he can manage. I think he’s someone who could really benefit from just taking time out and repackaging every part of his game, working on everything from scratch.
But Liang is a regular in Sheffield, and a real fan favourite. If someone’s going to stop him they’ll have to play well. But just maybe, Lu Ning is that player. He’ll certainly upset the natural aggressive game of Liang, and if he can throw him off of his game, then there’s a good chance of a shock here.
Bracket 7 Prediction: Lu Ning 10 – 6 Liang Wenbo
Bracket 8
Tip: Iulian Boiko is incredibly good for someone so young, and also very composed. I’d back him to get at least three frames.
O’Brien 6-4 Fergal Quinn, Carrington 5-6 O’Brien, Davis 5-6 O’Brien
Clarke 6-3 Boiko, O’Neill 4-6 Clarke, Perry 6-4 Clarke
Bracket 8 Final: Fergal O’Brien vs. Mark Davis
Fearless Fergal is back again. And knowing Fergal, he’ll give everything he’s got, and the fantastic thing about him is that he knows how to scrap over the line. He’s not going to play any differently if he’s 9-0 up or 9-0 down, and that is absolutely admirable. He’s not won many matches this season, but it doesn’t make him any more difficult to face. And over the longer format, that experience is key.
Joe Perry doesn’t lack experience though. The Gentleman has been around forever, and has been in and around the Top 16 for two decades. It’s hard to describe his playing style because he is just a good all rounder, which kind of reflects his season really – he’s had a Quarter-Final, and other than that he’s just hoovered up a few wins here and there, never doing terribly but never doing amazingly either. Fergal will push, but Gent will be just too strong here, and nobody will want to draw him in Round 1.
Bracket 8 Prediction: Fergal O’Brien 4 – 10 Joe Perry
Bracket 9
Tip: Don’t be surprised if the 3rd round involves four men of different nationalities
Figueiredo 6-2 Ajaib, Williams 6-5 Figueiredo, Un-Nooh 4-6 Williams
McLeod 6-2 Ochoiski, Hamilton 6-4 McLeod, Joyce 4-6 Hamilton
Bracket 9 Final: Robbie Williams vs. Anthony Hamilton
This would certainly be interesting wouldn’t it? Robbie (no not that one) has done extremely well this season after staying on the tour via the one year list last season, reaching the Last 8 in the English Open. He’s rather gone off the boil since however, and has only won one match since the turn of the year (excluding the Shootout and Pro Series). But he’s still played well this season, and is a quality player.
But he’d absolutely be the villain in this match. Because Ant Hamilton has been through the wringer the past year. First he qualified for the Crucible last year. Then he withdrew because of covid concerns (Hamilton has severe asthma). Then he had eye surgery which went horribly wrong, and by his own admission, has left him nearly blind under certain lighting conditions.
He’s still giving it the good sporting try though, getting by on nous alone. And that is what will give him the opportunity here. Williams SHOULD totally annihilate Hamilton. But the Sheriff is such an awkward character to face, because he knows his way around the table like nobody else. I’ve backed the man from the Wirral here, but don’t be too surprised if he gets shot down.
Bracket 9 Prediction: Robbie Williams 10 – 8 Anthony Hamilton
Bracket 10
Tip: Expect to see a lot of moaning from me on Twitter (@M18Snooker) about all my favourites being in the same Bracket. Random my arse!
Carty 4-6 White, Heathcote 6-4 White, Day 6-3 Heathcote
Lines 6-2 Lloyd, Honghao 6-4 Lines, Walden 6-2 Honghao
Bracket 10 Final: Ryan Day vs. Ricky Walden
Let’s be honest here, this should be battle of the Welshmen. Let’s face it, Walden was brought up in Flintshire, and lives in Flintshire now. Anyway, rant over. Ryan won his third Ranking title at the Shootout back in February (I am not getting into the argument of whether the Shootout should be a ranking event here), which came as a bit of a surprise considering he hadn’t been himself for a couple of seasons. It’s actually his only venture beyond the Last 32 this season, which tells you a lot. But when he’s on form, Ryan is what I like to call an “accumulator” player – they never look like they’re playing especially quickly, but they just rack up the points rapidly. You look one moment and they have 10 points, you look back shortly afterwards and they’ve made a ton. And his cue power is simply insane, likely due to his height (just shy of 6’2).
Talking of players having a renaissance this season, Ricky’s done relatively well for himself, reaching the Quarters in the Scottish Open and two other Last 16s. He’s had so many issues with injury that I did wonder if he’d ever hit the high notes again. Ricky is so smooth in the balls, and he’s a very clever operator who knows when to give up on a break. If he can find his form again more often, then I have little doubt he’ll be back in the mix for the Top 16 before long. You don’t seem to get those good all-rounders in the vein of Perry and Walden coming through these days.
Funnily enough both of these two have had issues related to their spine in recent years (back and spine for Walden, neck for Day), which has contributed to their fall from grace. But this will be a great match regardless of that, because both of them are very experienced pros. I’ve just about gone for Ryan to win this one, but I wouldn’t be hugely surprised if it was the other way round.
Bracket 10 Prediction: Ryan Day 10 – 7 Ricky Walden
Bracket 11
Tip: Duane Jones has been known to practice with Mark Williams. So if he gets on a streamed table, expect to see him use Mark’s ingenious new break-off and play at least one shot underarm.
Tip 2: If Ben Woollaston does well, then expect some smart alek on social media to say that it’s down to his wife being a referee, ignoring the very obvious fact that Tatiana isn’t allowed to officiate his matches.
Taylor 6-1 Bai, McManus 3-6 Taylor, Woolaston 6-3 McManus
D. Jones 6-2 Staniland, Wells 5-6 D. Jones, Gould 6-3 D. Jones
Bracket 11 Final: Ben Woollaston vs. Martin Gould
Just what I hate doing, predicting Ben Woollaston matches. Can you blame me though? Because you never know what you’re getting. I’ve seen him beat the best, and I’ve also seen him lose to absolute dross. He is a good player to watch though. He’s got a nice rhythm around the table, he’s relatively aggressive, and he has a strong safety backing, likely helped by his friend Mark Selby (then again if you ask Mark he’s friends with everyone in Leicester). You get these cases with 128 players on tour that some just don’t really get talked about so much. And Ben is the perfect example.
So Martin Gould, ANOTHER player who has had a career revival this season. He’s talked very openly about his issues with depression, and I must say, his interviews are a very good listen. You really get the feeling that he wants to stop other people from suffering with the same issues that he did. He came agonisingly close to a first ranking title since 2016 at the start of the season, losing a decider to Selby in the European Masters, and has since reached a Quarter-Final at the World Grand Prix. He’s always been an enterprising player, and in groove makes the game look rather easy. This should be close, both players will fight for every point. It won’t be pretty, but it will be entertaining. As for the winner? I think I’d just tip Ben.
Bracket 11 Prediction: Ben Woolaston 10 – 8 Martin Gould
Bracket 12
Tip: If David Grace gets on a streamed table, expect at least one reference to Leeds United in every frame (presuming the streamed tables have commentators). Because Snooker commentators love to talk about just about every sport OTHER than Snooker
Hallworth 4-6 Young, Grace 6-0 Young, Brown 4-6 Grace
Cahill 5-6 Maddocks, Greene 4-6 Maddocks, Wilson 6-4 Maddocks
Bracket 12 Final: David Grace vs. Gary Wilson
Ee by gum, it’s the battle of the proper northern lads. Best watch this with a pie or a pasty, and a bottle of brown ale (or your other drink of choice if like me, you don’t drink alcohol). Big Dave Grace is a much underrated player, and I love to see him playing. For such a big guy (he’s 6’5 and had issues fitting in the Crucible when he qualified), he’s got a lovely touch in the balls. He isn’t such an explosive break builder, but he does go through spells where it’s like the balls are magnetic. He also reached the semis in the Northern Ireland Open, before being outclassed by Judd Trump (who hasn’t this season).
But he will be the underdog against the Wallsend Wolverine. Gary’s had an extremely poor season, and he’s admitted to struggling mentally with Covid (I can relate) amongst other things. He reached the Last 16 of the English Open, but other than that it’s the Last 64 where he’s peaked. We all remember his run to the semis 2 years ago (where he suddenly became the best safety player in the world), but he missed out to Alex Ursenbacher last year, and with the season he’s had, I fear the Wolverine may get mauled.
Bracket 12 Prediction: David Grace 10 – 3 Gary Wilson
Bracket 13
Tip: Expect me to be cheering on Peter Devlin via Twitter. Because I think he is a genius and hilarious. A bit like if I was a professional snooker player who could rap. (Sadly I can do neither).
Tip 2: Bet on Ali Carter. I’ll explain why further down.
Si 6-1 Hussain, Pang 6-5 Si, Carter 6-1 Pang
Devlin 6-4 Kleckers, Ursenbacher 6-3 Devlin, O’Donnell 6-3 Ursenbacher
Bracket 13 Final: Ali Carter vs. Martin O’Donnell
Ali has been one of the standout players of the season for me. He’s not actually won anything (although he was runner-up in the Pro Series), but there’s been times this season where he’s simply blown everybody away. He’s made 27 centuries this season, and has made a habit of battering opponents into the dust. He’s been simply phenomenal, but issues with his temper still rear their head on occasion.
His opponent is very different though. The man known as the Minister of Defence knows how to tighten the screw on an opponent, and seems to relish in clearing up the mess made by rash opponents. He reminds me of a 2015-17 Mark Selby in that respect. In fact Martin got to this stage last season before being crushed by Elliot Slessor. His peak this season was a Last 8 appearance at of all the tournaments for the Minister of Defence, the Shootout. Martin is very capable of keeping you under lock and key for a match, stopping you from really doing much. But that won’t happen here. Ali lost in qualifying to Louis Heathcote last season, but he’s a very different animal this campaign.
Bracket 13 Prediction: Ali Carter 10 – 1 Martin O’Donnell
Bracket 14
Tip: Sam Craigie can be lethal in the right mood. He’ll make a century in every match he plays.
Filipiak 6-4 Parsons, Page 6-2 Filipiak, Page 6-4 Zhao X
Hill 6-2 Hugill, Craigie 6-5 Hill, Craigie 6-5 Vafaei
Bracket 14 Final: Jackson Page vs. Sam Craigie
Well wouldn’t this be nice. For me anyway, I like both players. Action Jackson is right in the thick of tour survival action, but he can clearly play so much better than he has done. It’s got to be difficult starting out on tour though, and I feel like he’s a couple more years from really establishing himself and he’s been much improved this season. His peak was the Last 16 in the European Masters, going through Jack Lisowski and Luca Brecel in the process. I feel like there’s a lot of Mark Williams in young Jackson (not in that way!) with how he approaches break building.
So, does anyone want to say Sam Craigie’s inconsistent? Fine, I’ll do it. He’s a frustrating player to watch because he has all the tools to be truly great. His game is absolutely ridiculous for where he’s ranked, especially his potting. He treats every shot as if it’s his last, and I find myself living the match with him as a result. He’s had some great results this season, but they’ve tended to be isolated. He was absolutely superb in the Pro Series however. This could be anybody’s, but Sam is just so good, I feel like he’s one good result away from being a major threat.
Bracket 14 Prediction: Jackson Page 6 – 10 Sam Craigie
Bracket 15
Tip: Matthew Stevens is a canny operator. Back him in any decider.
Lei 4-6 Mertens, Wakelin 6-2 Mertens, Stevens 6-5 Wakelin
Lichtenberg 6-1 Kakovskii, Burns 6-3 Lichtenberg, Xiao 6-2 Burns
Bracket 15 Final: Matthew Stevens vs. Xiao Guodong
I don’t know what else to say about Matthew other than what I put in the Underrated Players blog. He’s a great player still after all these years, he’s developed a backbone of steel, and he doesn’t feel the pressure because he never expects to win a match. He’s had a good season as well, with a Last 16, three other Last 32s and some very good performances (especially beating Ronnie in the English Open). And when he hits the high notes, he can be devastating still.
He’s got stiff competition in Xiao though. Longshot Xiao, as his nickname would suggest, has a piercing long game. But he’s always struck me as a very confident player in his own right aside from that. He’s so consistent in his play that when he’s in the balls, I just never fancy him missing. The Quarter-Finals of the Gibraltar Open is the furthest he’s got this season, and it feels like he’s regressed slightly for whatever reason. He no longer feels like a significant threat for titles like he did a couple of years ago. I do think he’ll win here though, I think he’ll be a little too strong for the Welsh Dragon.
Bracket 15 Prediction: Matthew Stevens 6 – 10 Xiao Guodong
Bracket 16
Tip: Robbie McGuigan is related to Mark Allen. So if the draws really are rigged, expect McGuigan to qualify and face Mark in Round 1 at the Crucible.
Hancorn 6-4 Nussele, King 6-2 Hancorn, Brecel 6-4 King
Mann 6-3 McGuigan, Chen 4-6 Mann, Bingham 6-0 Mann
Bracket 16 Final: Luca Brecel vs. Stuart Bingham
Almost done. Luca, the Belgian Bullet. He’s dropped off a little in the past couple of years, I think the loss to Gary Wilson in that Crucible epic took more out of him than he’ll say, and he’s started to overcomplicate his game again. Luca is at his best when he’s sticking to the basics – one visit snooker. He’s a great long potter, and then he’s a hyper-aggressive player who will happily take on anything. Never underestimate what he can do when his eye is in. Two last 32s for Luca this season. Also, his Wikipedia page lists his nickname as “Snooker Brecel”, and I’ve not decided if that’s terrible or hilarious.
Ok, who had Stuart Bingham having to qualify for the World Championship on their predictions card at the start of the season? He seemed safe for a while, but he was just waiting for his season to get going. And it never did. He’s had a couple of Quarter-Finals, but nothing significant enough to push him into contention. However he is a great player, a maximum machine, and he’ll be after the £10,000 for making a maxi in the qualifiers. I’ve got him beating Luca comfortably here, Luca just seems to have lost his game.
Bracket 16 Prediction: Luca Brecel 6 – 10 Stuart Bingham
So that’s the predictions. Let me know what you think, and if I do as badly as I’m expecting, feel free to insult me via the normal means (Twitter, Blog comments, Morse Code, send me a letter in Binary). Until next time, thanks for reading.
M18 SNOOKER BLOG 