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Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan

World Championship snooker free betting preview, match-by-match tips, TV Coverage, schedule and odds

By Sporting Life
Snooker
Mon August 10, 2020 · 4y ago

Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Mark Williams in the last eight of the World Championship at the Crucible on Monday - get our verdict here.

  • All matches will be previewed in time for day of play
  • Scroll to foot for previews of matches which have started

Mark Williams v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Despite producing a polished performance on Sunday to secure his 19th Crucible quarter-finals appearance, it was Ronnie O'Sullivan's comments at the culmination of that match that really made the headlines.

O'Sullivan was quick to point out that he didn't think he could win a sixth World Championship title this year but more controversially, he slammed the young talent in the sport and claimed he would 'need to lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50.'

As ever, O'Sullivan has got people talking but it's his exploits on the table that should really be making us sit up and take notice given he arrived in Sheffield on the back of a lean season where he has consistently played supporting roles behind the likes of Judd Trump and Neil Robertson.

For a man so used to being the leading light, there has been a sense in recent days that slipping slightly under the radar in a year where no crowds are allowed in the Crucible might prove a significant help to him.

That certainly looked to be the case when he breezed past Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the first round and you couldn't fail to have been impressed with the manner in which he then left Ding Junhui for dead when moving from 8-8 to an ultimately comfortable 13-10 victory in round two.

While just a few unforced errors might be starting to creep into O'Sullivan's game - he missed three simple blacks in the final session against Ding - his long potting has looked very sharp so far while he has also displayed a willingness in engage in tactical exchanges when needed.

All in all, for all he might be playing down his chances away for the table, it is hard to fault his attitude on it and he ought to prove a very tough nut for Mark Williams to crack.

A meeting between O'Sullivan and Williams pitches two members of the famous Class of '92 and as far as snooker royalty goes, you don't get much more regal than this pair.

Williams' three world titles is overshadowed by O'Sullivan's five but the Welshman's victory in 2018 means he is a more recent visitor to the Crucible winners' enclosure. In fact, this is O'Sullivan's first last-eight appearance since 2017.

Having celebrated hard in the aftermath of that victory in 2018, and suffered on the table as a result, Williams has worked tirelessly on the practice table in recent months and his efforts have certainly paid dividends.

Williams finished his first-round match with Alan McManus strongly before drawing on all of his experience and skill to beat another former world champion in Stuart Bingham on Friday.

He looks to be playing well again and having made no secret of wanting to experience playing O'Sullivan at the Crucible one last time, he is sure to be keyed up for their first meeting between the pair since the 2017 Shanghai Masters.

The betting gives Williams little chance - O'Sullivan priced up at 1/6 - but that probably underestimates the Welsh potter who has always been a terrific competitor with a wonderful ability to edge close frames.

Williams will carry that trait until the day he retires and given O'Sullivan's inevitable fireworks in the first two rounds have been interspersed with the type of unforced errors that have held him back all season, over 20 match frames looks banker material.

Prediction: Williams 10-13 O'Sullivan

Best bet: Over 20 match frames at 4/6

Kurt Maflin v Anthony McGill

Marathon Man Anthony McGill has certainly done it the hard way at this year's World Championship; coming through qualifying before battling past Jack Lisowski and Jamie Clarke in a pair of final-frame deciders that frayed the nerves of players and viewers alike.

McGill withstood a typically swashbuckling comeback from Lisowksi in the first round before producing a memorable fightback of his own when coming from 8-2 down to eventually see off Clarke 13-12.

On both occasions McGill displayed nerves of steel to guarantee his biggest pay day for a couple of years but until getting himself embroiled in a war with Clarke, his all-round game had been very solid.

His scoring might need to improve against Kurt Maflin, though, given the latter has already overpowered Dave Gilbert and John Higgins in recent days.

Maflin actually knocked in four centuries against Gilbert and continued to play with that same attacking freedom even when Higgins had threatened to tie him in knots in the concluding session of their match.

Expect more of the same from Maflin while McGill will be hopeful of hanging on to his coat tails early before dragging him into a battle as the winning line and a place in the semi-finals gets closer.

Fatigue could well be a factor for McGill given he has endured two tough matches already and had a late finish on Sunday night.

Maflin, on the other hand, has had a few of days off to recharge his batteries but this is the biggest match of his career and his temperament has never been pushed this far.

A tough match to call but it could well produce another thriller.

Prediction: Maflin 11-13 McGill

Matches under way or completed

Judd Trump v Tom Ford

As is tradition, defending champion Judd Trump will open the show by taking on Tom Ford on Friday.

Six ranking titles already this season, and now firmly established as world number one in the rankings, Trump returns to Sheffield as the 11/4 market leader despite looking a little out of sorts when last seen at the Tour Championship.

Still, a few weeks to hone his skills since should stand him in good stead and he will be need to be sharp against Ford, a dangerous opponent who can score as well as anyone when in the grove.

Ford was a semi-finalist at the 2018 UK Championship and last-four finishes at the English Open and World Grand Prix this term further demonstrate his capabilities.

I'm not expecting Trump to become the seventh first-time world champion to lose in the first round the following year but I don't think this will be plain sailing and just as was the case against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh last year, he might have to come through a tough opening workout.

Prediction: Trump 10-7 Ford

Stuart Bingham v Ashley Carty

For a man who became Masters champion as recently as January, it is strange to think that Stuart Bingham might view this season as something of a disappointment if he doesn't enjoy a deep run in Sheffield.

The Masters aside, the best Bingham has managed this term was a quarter-final finish at the World Open way back in November and for a player of his pedigree, that's really isn't good enough.

It's not that Bingham has played badly. In fact, his scoring has remained typically heavy, but he hasn't had enough good results to show for it and will be desperate to bounce back over the next few weeks at a venue which gave him his greatest moment in the sport when being crowned world champion in 2015.

Bingham will kick off his bid for a second Crucible crown against Ashley Carty on Friday, the latter having qualified for the World Championship for the very first time by beating Robert Milkins 10-8 in qualifying.

Carty is a tenacious character who will leave everything out on the table but this is a stiff ask on his Crucible debut and I'd expect Bingham to prove too strong and win with something to spare.

Prediction: Bingham 10-5 Carty

Kyren Wilson v Anthony Hamilton

Hamilton has withdrawn from the tournament; Wilson receives bye to round two

Anthony Hamilton will be making his first Crucible appearance since 2008 when he faces Kyren Wilson on round one, though celebrations have been dampened somewhat by his own fears about the return of crowds for this event.

Nevertheless, Hamilton played really well to beat a solid yardstick in Scott Donaldson to book his place in the first round and this former German Masters winner remains a real handful when on song.

He should keep Kyren Wilson honest but the latter has looked right at home in five visits to the Crucible so far, reaching the quarter-finals on three occasions and making the last four in 2018.

Having started to find his best form prior to the coronavirus lockdown, I expect Wilson to be a big threat to all in Sheffield once again and fancy him to begin with a convincing opening win.

Prediction: Wilson 10-6 Hamilton

Ding Junhui v Mark King

Following a disappointing spell in the doldrums, Ding Junhui roared back to his best by claiming a third UK Championship title in York in December.

It was Ding at his best; relentless, heavy scoring made possible by typically pinpoint cue-ball control as he brushed aside the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Maguire with such ease that he seemed sure to enjoy a strong second half of the season.

Nevertheless, he has been quiet since and opting to miss the recent Tour Championship amid the coronavirus pandemic means he heads to Sheffield even harder to assess than usual.

Mark King, on the other hand, came through tough matches against Ken Doherty and Ian Burns to book his place at the Crucible and this experienced campaigner might just be capable of springing a surprise if Ding isn't on his mettle.

For those looking for a potential first-round banana skin, this match might well be the one to provide it.

Prediction: Ding 8-10 King

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Mark Williams v Alan McManus

It seems like an age since Mark Williams shocked the snooker world by winning his third world title in the spring of 2018 but his form since has taken a dramatic downturn.

It was hardly surprising given Williams made no secret of his desire to enjoy that 2018 win to the fullest and talk of retirement has once again resurfaced following a host of modest results this season.

Nevertheless, a run to the final of the China Championship in September and more recently, the semi-finals of the Gibraltar Open, demonstrate he remains a top-class performer on his day.

Reports that Williams has been working hard on the practice table in recent weeks should encourage his supporters but Alan McManus, another elder statesman of the game, played really well in qualifying to ensure he booked his place at the Crucible for the first time since 2016.

McManus went on to reach to last four that year and this will be no easy starter for Williams.

Prediction: Williams 10-8 McManus

David Gilbert v Kurf Maflin

David Gilbert was one of the great stories of last year's World Championship, enjoying a brilliant run to the semi-finals before agonisingly losing out to John Higgins in heartbreaking fashion at the end of a pulsating semi-final.

His wait for a maiden ranking-title success still goes on but in reaching the English Open final earlier this term, he proved he is close and he will be desperate to do well on his return to Sheffield.

A fantastic breakbuilder when on song, his effortless scoring paved the way for his dream run last year and I'd expect more of the same this time around, particularly if the pockets are as generous as they looked in Friday's matches.

Up against Gilbert is the hugely talented Kurt Maflin who, like his opponent, is at his best when playing an attacking game and relying on his potting and breakbuilding.

Maflin impressed in qualifying and I'd expect him and Gilbert to put on a show in this one. Take the 9/4 Sky Bet offer for there to be four on more centuries in the match.

Prediction: Gilbert 10-7 Maflin

Best bet: Four or more centuries in the match at 9/4

John Higgins v Matthew Stevens

John Higgins will begin his bid for a fifth world title when he takes on Matthew Stevens this weekend.

Higgins will go down as one of the greats of the game but should he not get his hands on the World Championship trophy again before he hangs up his cue, he will surely look back with some regret having been a beaten finalist in Sheffield in each of the last three years.

John Higgins weighs up a shot at the Crucible
John Higgins weighs up a shot at the Crucible

Higgins remains a very fine operator who has been knocking on the door all season without quite finding his brilliant best, and back at his favourite venue and in his favourite event, he must be afforded the utmost respect.

Stevens has never been crowned world champion, despite making the final in 2000 and 2005, but he remains a classy performer himself and won't be disgraced here, for all he might come up short.

Prediction: Higgins 10-7 Stevens

Yan Bingtao v Elliot Slessor

Elliot Slessor is probably best known for his impressive record against Ronnie O'Sullivan and his last-eight finish at this season's German Masters shows just what he is capable of.

Having impressed in qualifying, he will be hopeful of springing a surprise or two at the Crucible, for all he faces a particularly tough opening match again Yan Bingtao.

Bingtao was still a teenager when he won his first ranking title - the Riga Masters - way back last summer and he has continued to go from strength to strength thereafter.

Three semi-final finishes, including at the UK Championship, as well as reaching the final of the Players Championship, underline his growing stature in the game and there should be plenty more to come.

A fine all-round player, with an impressive tactical game for one so young, he should enjoy the demands of this event and will surely make a winning start.

Prediction: Bingtao 10-6 Slessor

Neil Robertson v Liang Wenbo

It's 12 years now since Liang became the first Chinese player to reach the quarter-finals here, doing so on debut after a controversial victory over Joe Swail in the second round.

It's not the only time he's made headlines in Sheffield, as back in 2018 he bagged a 147 in qualifying and was one pot away from another two frames later, only to miss a tricky black off its spot.

He's got talent, all right, and he's both won the English Open and for a long time based himself in England, so he's the sort of player who represents a slightly worrying draw for any seeded player in the first round here.

Indeed, he lost 13-12 to Ding in round two on his last visit to the Crucible, and prior to that took Trump almost the distance in a 10-8 defeat.

Robertson knows he needs to do better having failed to reach the one-table set-up here since 2014.

Nick Metcalfe speaks to Neil Robertson
Nick Metcalfe speaks to Neil Robertson

I do like the fact he's had a break following that golden run which saw him reach three finals in succession at the beginning of the year, but the news that there will not be an audience is troubling - he told us he felt the Tour Championship was like paid practice and will need to have adjusted.

Still, Liang had to work mighty hard to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 in qualifying, and for all his record against Robertson isn't bad, their one Triple Crown meeting ended in a 10-5 victory for the Australian.

Something like that should be expected, perhaps one more frame for the Chinese, and the favourite should have no excuses.

For a bet, consider over 2.5 centuries at 8/13 or over 3.5 at odds-against.

These two seem to bring out the best in each other, evidenced by three centuries in each of their last three meetings at an average of one every 3.2 frames. Indeed, Robertson bagged a 147 in that UK Championship meeting and as for Liang, he completed his comeback against O'Brien with a superb 141 clearance.

Prediction: Robertson 10-6 Liang

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Without question the tie of the round and the sort of match which, should it deliver what it promises, could make anyone fall in love with this sport.

O'Sullivan says Un-Nooh is one of those players he doesn't mind losing to and whether you believe him or not, there's a reason for it: the Thai plays the game like O'Sullivan himself, gliding round the table and wasting not one second over a shot.

The results can be spectacular - see that infamous missed 147 attempt and his Shoot Out success - and there was much to like about the way he qualified, including two centuries and a further five frame-winning breaks against the capable Liam Highfield earlier this week.

The trouble is he does need those single-visit contributions to win frames and indeed matches, which is why for all his talent I'm not sure anyone sees him as a world champion in the making.

Still, it's been a largely excellent year and there's certainly a risk factor here for Ronnie, who has started to show signs that he's slowing down. Indeed, much here will depend on whether playing Thepchaiya brings out his best or his worst; his safety game is his big advantage, perversely, and just how serious he is about winning may well be revealed before the mid-session interval - not just the match, but the tournament itself.

My colleague Chris Hammer makes the case for this to be the first-round match which produces the most centuries, and that's a route many will go down. I, however, have come to the conclusion, largely on instinct, that O'Sullivan will be primed to send a message, especially if the absence of spectators does make him feel more at ease.

Thepchaiya has played well in both first-round exits at the Crucible - indeed he was dreadfully unlucky not to beat Trump last April in a defeat which changed the course of snooker history - but my suspicion is he could be in for a hiding.

There's not a great deal to base it on, so the message is hold your bets, and instead focus on the essence of this game: it will be played at pace, with grace, and is sure to deliver something spectacular one way or another.

Prediction: O'Sullivan 10-3 Un-Nooh

Jack Lisowski v Anthony McGill

As natural talents go, you'd struggle to find too many better than Jack Lisowski and when in full flight, he really is a sight to behold.

Nevertheless, his wait for that first ranking-title still goes on and he returns to Sheffield on the back of a frustrating season, a run to the final of the Scottish Open notwithstanding.

An all-action player who pots for fun and has a wonderful touch in the balls, Lisowski's safety game still has room for improvement and he has yet to produce his best in three previous visits to the Crucible.

His first-round opponent this year is Anthony McGill, a former Indian Open winner and an established member of the top 16 until more recently when he has found results harder to come by.

Like Liswoski, he has struggled for his best again this term but was one of the most impressive players on show in qualifying and certainly knows his way around the table.

Like many have done before, he will be well aware that dragging Lisowski into a dog fight might afford him the best chance of victory.

Prediction: Lisowski 8-10 McGill

Shaun Murphy v Noppon Saengkham

It was way back in 2005 when qualifier Shaun Murphy was crowned world champion and 15 years on, he will be hopeful of tasting Crucible success for the second time.

Murphy has made the final twice since 2005 and would appear to have plenty going for him this year on the back of a strong campaign which has included wins at the China Championship and Welsh Open.

Along with those victories, Murphy has continued to make his mark all season as his much-improved tactical play compliments his wonderful long game and heavy scoring.

His opponent on Monday, Noppon Saengkham, is a useful operator in his own right but having made the semi-finals of the World Open last term, has been unable to maintain his progression this time around.

Still, Saengkham secured his second Crucible appearance on merit and should ensure Murphy at least enjoys a good opening workout.

Prediction: Murphy 10-6 Saengkham

Mark Selby v Jordan Brown

From 2014 to 2017 Mark Selby was the undisputed king of the Crucible as he rose to the summit of the world rankings and swept aside all before him in Sheffield.

However, he has failed to get anywhere close to reaching those heights in the last two years as inconsistency has crept into his previously rock-solid game and seen him struggle to impact in more recent Triple Crown events.

It hasn't all been doom and gloom, though, and Selby was brilliant in winning the English and Scottish Opens earlier in the season; scoring heavily and looking to retain all the hunger that drove him to become the best player on the planet not so long ago.

There is no doubting that he is still capable of beating the best when on song but he has become harder to predict nowadays and it is worth noting that even when in his pomp, the first round has often been his hardest match of the World Championship.

Selby has actually been beaten four times in the first round at the Crucible already and he looks worth taking on again this year, at least in the handicap markets.

He faces a Crucible debutant in Jordan Brown who comes with a glowing reputation and with the respect of some good judges who know his game well.

Brown looked a smart prospect when coming through qualifying and with the prospect of no crowd making the daunting Crucible Theatre slightly less intimidating than usual this year, there is certainly an angle in thinking Brown can at least give a good account of himself.

Another slow start from Selby would certainly help and the 6/5 on offer from Sky Bet about Brown to cover the handicap (+4.5) looks worth a bet.

Mark Allen v Jamie Clarke

It's remarkable to think that despite growing into one of the leading players in the world, Mark Allen's Crucible best remains his run to the semi-finals in 2009.

Allen has become a Triple crown winner since, claiming Masters glory in 2018 before reaching the final of the UK Championship later that year, and another deep run in Sheffield can't be far away.

He certainly has all the tools to do well here; a superb long game, a wonderful touch in the balls, and a clever safety game that can match the very best in the sport nowadays.

Following a promising return to form when reaching the final of the recent Tour Championship, the signs are there that Allen could be coming to the boil just in time for the big one and Jamie Clarke could be in for a baptism of fire.

Clarke beat the likes of Joe Perry and Akani Songsermsawad in qualifying so he is clearly very capable on his day but he could have hardly asked for a tougher Crucible debut and expect him to find his Northern Irish opponent too streetwise over this two-session encounter.

Prediction: Allen 10-6 Clarke

Stephen Maguire v Martin Gould

In years gone by we might have been left wondering which Stephen Maguire would turn up in Sheffield.

For someone so gifted, he hasn't always been the most reliable but an improved work ethic and a growing maturity has seen Maguire enjoy a strong season that has certainly boosted his bank balance.

After Ding Junhui opted to miss the Tour Championship, Maguire stepped in at the eleventh hour and within a matter of days had swept aside all before him on the way to title glory and a cheque for £260,000.

That came after a final-frame loss to Judd Trump in the semi-finals of the Players Championship - in a match he really should have won - having reached the quarter-finals of The Masters and final of the UK Championship earlier in the campaign.

The old fire still remains, as does his aggressive streak on the table, but the way he stuck to his guns in a scrappy match against ole foe Trump at the Tour Championship was a fair indication of the new and improved Maguire.

He'll need to be on his mettle against classy veteran Martin Gould who looked much more like his old self when beating Graeme Dott on Judgement Day to book his Crucible ticket.

This could be a good match and given Maguire's penchant for big breaks of late, and Gould's heavy scoring in qualifying, the 5/2 Sky Bet are offering for four of more match centuries looks fair.

Prediction: Maguire 10-8 Gould

Best bet: Four or more match centuries at 5/2

Barry Hawkins v Alexander Ursenbacher

This is one of the first-round ties that had the look of a potential banana skin.

Barry Hawkins is in the midst of one of his most disappointing seasons for quite some time, one in which he has openly admitted to suffering from a lack of confidence and having not worked hard enough on the practice table.

Whether Hawkins has used lockdown to put in the hours in practice remains to be seen but he won't be taking the talented and very dangerous Alexander Ursenbacher lightly.

Ursenbacher made the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open earlier in the season to underline his capabilities and there is the very real possibility that the absence of a crowd at the Crucible this year could really help this free spirit who loves to play an attacking, open game.

Hawkins, on the other hand, has tended to revel in the pressure cooker that is usually the Crucible Theatre - making four semi-finals and a final here in a distinguished career - and he might feel one of his big advantages has been taken away from him this year.

Still, he can draw on many happy Crucible memories that could easily spark him back to life and it's those thoughts that temper any enthusiasm for taking a chance on Ursenbacher at 11/4.

Prediction: Hawkins 10-7 Ursenbacher

John Higgins v Kurt Maflin

Four centuries including that failed 147 bid and subsequent middle-finger salute mark down Kurt Maflin as one of the most impressive first-round winners. Granted, he only scraped through, but he was up against a Crucible semi-finalist who also played well in the shape of David Gilbert, and it could be an important victory when it comes to how his career develops as he has the talent to achieve plenty in the game.

The Norwegian is very highly regarded and has every shot in the manual, as displayed with a 10-1 thumping of Matt Selt to seal his second World Championship appearance. And while he's sometimes found wanting at the business-end, he'd previously beaten Joe O'Connor 6-5, while his Sheffield debut five years ago saw him take defending champion Mark Selby the distance in round one.

Throw in the fact that his sole previous meeting with John Higgins ended in a 3-0 win, and you can see where the bits and pieces of support has come from. He's now 100/30 in a place, 11/4 generally, and that's a mark of the impression he's created - and the way in which he's spoken about by commentators and pundits.

The trouble is, he's facing one of the greats of the game here and though Higgins wasn't quite at his best against Matthew Stevens, he did the job, and he'll likely do the job again. He spoke prior to that match about his practice sessions with fellow Scots and will have been pleased to see one of them, Anthony McGill, show some Higgins-like nous and see off Jack Lisowski on Monday.

No doubt come game-time here he'll be focused on the job he has to do and the extension of matches to best-of-25 tips the scales further in his favour. Maflin may well win the odd mini-session, but should he blast out of the blocks and take three of the first four or even six of the first nine, it may well pay to get with Higgins in-running. Expect him to ensure this match is played how he wants it to be played.

Higgins has lost three second-round matches to unseeded players, but two were Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, and the other was Shaun Murphy en route to his 2005 victory. Maflin hasn't the nous of that trio and 45-year-old Higgins, who has won at least two matches here in each of the last four years, is considered banker material to progress.

Finding a bet isn't easy, but if you've fallen for Maflin's break-building talents, he's 7/5 to record the highest break or around evens to bag the first century of the match. Both look short enough to my eye, and I prefer the 11/2 offered by several firms on a century in the first frame. It happened in five of the 15 first-round matches and should've been six, Tom Ford missing black off the spot when on course for a maximum and instead settling for a break of 97.

That alone makes the price look big enough, without even considering the fact that Higgins has made 31 across the last three renewals including a dozen last year, and that Maflin is enjoying his most prolific year yet in terms of centuries to frames played. It's a small, speculative suggestion, but 11/2 about either man taking a chance in frame one is probably on the generous side.

Prediction: Higgins 13-9 Maflin

Mark Williams v Stuart Bingham

Two elder statesman of the game face off in a clash that really ought not to go under the radar.

Either side of a brilliant win at The Masters in January, Stuart Bingham hasn't been quite as good as in previous years - certainly in terms of results - but he remains a very fine operator who held off a spirited fightback form Ashley Carty in round one.

It seems fair to assume that he will need to improve again if he is to get past Mark Williams, winner here in 2018 when becoming world champion for a third time.

Williams is one of the greats but he has lost his way since that latest world title, certainly enjoying the moment and spending more time with a drink in his hand than a cue.

As his results predictably took a downward turn, talk of retirement once again resurfaced, but he has reaffirmed his commitment to the sport in recent days and Williams has professed to having worked hard on the practice table in preparation for the World Championship.

That might not have been in evidence in the first session of Williams' first-round encounter with Alan McManus but he was much sharper in the second session, reeling off six frames on the bounce to surge into the last 16.

The Welshman might just have turned a corner now and given his fine Crucible pedigree, I'm very surprised to see him priced up as second favourite.

Prediction: Williams 13-10 Bingham

Best bet: Mark Williams to beat Stuart Bingham at 1/1

Mark Selby v Noppon Saengkham

On what we witnessed in their respective opening matches, it is no surprise to see plenty of support for Noppon Saengkham to beat Mark Selby at around the 11/4 mark.

Saengkham belied a frustrating campaign so far when producing a fine display to beat former champion Shaun Murphy in round one, compiling eight breaks of over 50 as he cruised to a shock 10-4 victory.

In truth, Murphy was never at the races, but that shouldn't detract from Saengkham's efforts and there is no reason why this fine technician can't claim another big scalp now faced with an opponent in Selby who was a long way from his best when beating rookie Jordan Brown earlier this week.

Barring victories at the English and Scottish Opens, inconsistency has generally dogged Selby for a couple of years now and this once ultra-reliable and granite operator might not find Saengkham as forgiving as Brown was.

It's not that Selby isn't capable of producing high-class spurts of snooker that can compete with the very best in the game, it's just that he doesn't appear capable of doing it for very long anymore and I'm sure Saengkham will get plenty of chances to stamp his authority on this match.

Saengkham has already downed one former world champion this week and he might not get a better chance to beat another.

Prediction: Selby 10-13 Saengkham

Best bet: Noppon Saengkham to beat Mark Selby at 11/4

Judd Trump v Yan Bingtao

Reigning world champion Judd Trump was a long way from his best when labouring to a 10-8 victory over Tom Ford first up and had the latter been just that little bit more composed under pressure, he might well have been the one to progress to the second round.

As it was, Trump kept alive his hopes of breaking the famous Crucible Curse and becoming the very first first-time World Championship winner to successfully his crown the following year. On what we have seen from him this season, he could certainly be the man to defy history.

Trump is already the first man to win six ranking titles in a single season following a wonderful campaign but the more recent signs have been a little more concerning: an erratic return from lockdown in the Championship League; a tetchy showing - on and off the table - at the Tour Championship; and now his slow start in Sheffield.

Put simply, he is hard to weigh up for one so short in the betting but his opponent in the second round, Yan Bingtao, might not be the man to test his form given he has barely taken a frame off Trump in their five previous meetings.

Bingtao is a terrific prospect who has enjoyed a fine season for one so young and he ought to suited by the longer format of the World Championship. Nevertheless, he is entitled to have a few scars from Trump already and he might be powerless to prevent another defeat here.

Prediction: Trump 13-8 Bingtao

Anthony McGill v Jamie Clarke

Anthony McGill against Jamie Clarke is probably the surprise tie of the second round, the two qualifiers having both held themselves together brilliantly to defy the odds and scrape into the last 16.

That said, McGill's defeat of Jack Lisowski wouldn't have been the biggest shock in the world given it wasn't so long ago that he was an established member of the top 16 and winner of the Indian Open.

His stock has fallen somewhat over the last couple of seasons but he cruised through qualifying like the class act he is and produced a polished display to edge past Lisowski, displaying nerves of steel to sink a brilliant long blue in the deciding frame having watched his opponent roar back from 9-6 to level the scores.

A hard worker who has few glaring weaknesses, McGill looks like a man whose confidence is returning with every win and given how the draw has opened up for him, he will be hoping his labour can bear fruit in the coming days.

That's not to say that McGill will be taking Clarke lightly, and a watch of his touchstone victory over Mark Allen in the first round reveals a solid all-round game, plenty of patience and a good dose of bottle.

How he has struggled so badly for results of late remains a mystery, despite a plethora of tough early draws this season, but Clarke has already proven to be one of the feel-good stories of the championship and he will hope he isn't finished just yet.

Fingers crossed he can show up well again but McGill might not prove as charitable as Allen was and climbing the mountain for the second time in a week could just prove beyond the rookie.

Prediction: McGill 13-9 Clarke

Ding Junhui v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan's clash with fellow speed machine Thepchaiya Un-Nooh was billed as the pick of the first-round ties, but it proved to be one of the most one-sided matches of the week as the Rocket blitzed his opponent in a Crucible record time of 108 minutes.

A few days later and O'Sullivan will take top billing again in the most intriguing match of round two, a mouthwatering clash with Chinese superstar and this season's UK Championship hero Ding Junhui.

Ding came out on top when the pair last met at the Crucible, in the quarter-finals back in 2017, and again in York in December, but the head-to-record is still comfortably in O'Sullivan's favour (13-5).

Strangely enough, these two giants of the game both arrived in Sheffield with questions to answer following some modest results since Christmas, but neither will be taken lightly by the rest of the field.

Ding had to work desperately hard to edge past Mark King in round one but a match like that, and being able to come through it, might have done him the world of good given he hasn't always proven the most reliable when needing to scrap and fight.

As for O'Sullivan, he looked razor sharp against Thepchaiya as he reeled off big break after big break - including two centuries. Tougher tests await if he is to be crowned champion of the world for a sixth time, and claim a record-breaking 37th ranking title in the process, but there is a feeling that the stars might just be aligning for him.

Despite being the firm fans' favourite, the absence of crowds at this year's tournament appears to have taken some of the pressure that he is forced to constantly carry off his shoulders and he has certainly appeared in good spirits in recent days.

Always good for a quote and never short of an opinion, O'Sullivan's scepticism about the event in the build up seems to have subsided and he clearly enjoyed his first match, a workout that is sure to bring him forward after a period of extended inactivity having failed to qualify for the most recent Tour Championship.

Make no mistake, he is a big player in a year that might prove his best chance of adding to his five World Championship wins already and Ding will need to be at his very best.

Sky Bet go 8/11 about O'Sullivan making three or more centuries in the match and while that won't make anyone rich, it looks fair enough given the amount of centuries scored already this week and the form the Rocket displayed in his opener.

Prediction: Ding 9-13 O'Sullivan

Best bet: Ronnie O'Sullivan to make three of more match centuries at 8/11

Barry Hawkins v Neil Robertson

Despite boasting a Crucible record better than most, not many people would have had Barry Hawkins on their radar this year following such a quiet season.

Still, Sheffield usually brings out the best in Hawkins and he was much more like his old self when easing past Alexander Ursenbacher in round one on Wednesday.

Hawkins spoke at the conclusion of that match about how he is refreshed and excited to play again having felt 'drained' prior to the lockdown and he could push Neil Robertson hard in the battle of the left-handers.

At the time of writing, Robertson is third favourite to add to his sole World Championship win in 2010 and another strong campaign means he comes here full of confidence and seemingly well prepared having run out of steam at the quarter-finals stage last year.

Robertson will have certainly been pleased with the way in which he finished his match against Liang Wenbo, winning the last five frames in ruthless fashion, and it will surely take a strong performance to halt his bid.

Hawkins is certainly capable of doing just that, but it would be some ask to produce his best effort of the season with so little form behind him and in a match of this magnitude.

Expect Robertson to have a few too many guns for him on this occasion but this one certainly has the potential to be an engrossing watch.

Prediction: Hawkins 10-13 Robertson

Martin Gould v Kyren Wilson

There was probably no more impressive first-round performance than that of Martin Gould, and certainly no more impressive post-match interview. Gould first beat Stephen Maguire 10-3 courtesy of four centuries and a further five half-centuries, and then spoke about his mental health issues, how he considered quitting the game, and how more men should discuss the problems they're having.

You can only applaud the former German Masters champion who, on his 10th Crucible appearance, is through to the second round for just the third time. Never has he been beyond this stage, but if he performs as he did against Maguire, that could change.

Standing in his way is Kyren Wilson who, with due respect to Gould, couldn't have asked for much more than a first-round bye followed by a match with someone who had to play three rounds of qualifying just to get here. Of course, there's a slight risk that Wilson is rusty and that Gould is razor-sharp, but there must also be concerns that the latter has played 45 frames to get here and he was very emotional having beaten Maguire.

Wilson looks a fair price, ultimately, but it probably won't be a cakewalk and it should pay to play overs in the total frames markets. These two have clashed five times previously - Gould actually leads the head-to-head 3-2 - and each of them has been close, either going all the way or one shy of that. Should that trend continue we'd be looking at a minimum of 24 frames, and over 23.5 can be backed at around the 9/4 mark.

Of course we're over three sessions here and all their previous encounters have been over one, but remove the guesswork as to their respective levels of preparedness, and you've a Crucible specialist against a bang in-form qualifier who has always had ability, and seems to be back in love with the sport - and his new glasses.

Everything points towards a close game and while Wilson gets the vote to win it, we'll just lower the threshold and make over 22.5 the bet at 13/10.

Prediction: Gould 11-13 Wilson

Best bet: Over 22.5 frames at 13/10

Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson

The grudge match. Or so it would have been 12 months ago. Instead, Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson renew hostilities in the quarter-finals of the World Championship having apparently patched up their previously rocky relationship ahead of what promises to be a closely-fought encounter.

Both players have insisted they will never be 'best friends' in the last few days but the previous animosity between the two appears to be making way for growing respect and the spirit in which they played out the Gibraltar Open final in March was first class.

Expect more of the same in Sheffield with reigning champion Trump coming here on the back of a record-breaking campaign and Wilson looking very sharp when overpowering Martin Gould in the last 16.

While still without a Triple Crown title, Wilson finished runner-up at the 2018 Masters and has already made three quarter-finals and a semi-final in five previous appearances at the Crucible. Wilson has always looked at home in Sheffield, his game clearly well suited to the demands of the World Championship, and he might just be peaking at the right time.

He might not be the finished article just yet, but his game is certainly coming together now and he will be hopeful of catching Trump at the right time after the latter struggled through his first two matches against Tom Ford and Yan Bingtao.

Trump could easily have been an early casualty had Ford been able to grasp a number of glaring opportunities, but the 30-year-old got stronger as that match wore on and, once again, it was impressive that he produced his best snooker when his title defence was on the line.

Trump has made a habit out of getting stronger the deeper he goes in big events and there is every chance - just as was the case last year - that he now runs with that momentum the closer to the winning line he gets.

On that basis, it seems fair to assume it will take a very good performance to stop Trump from here on in, though Wilson is certainly capable of producing such an effort, just as he did when only narrowly losing out in that high-class final the pair played out in Gibraltar.

Trump just edges the head-to-head record between the pair (8-7), but there is rarely much between the two and backing Wilson to cover the handicap (+2.5) at 11/10 looks the way to go.

Prediction: Trump 13-12 Wilson

Best bet: Kyren Wilson to beat Judd Trump (+2.5) at 11/10

Mark Selby v Neil Robertson

Two former champions face off in a fascinating last-eight clash that promises a little bit of everything.

Mark Selby and Neil Robertson have enjoyed slightly different seasons; the former struggling for the consistency that helped him win three world titles in four years not so long ago, but still playing well enough to claim two major titles, while the latter has three wins to his name this season having enjoyed a hot streak between November and early February.

Neither have had easy rides in Sheffield so far this year, but Selby will have been heartened by the form he showed when under the pump against Noppon Saengkham in the second round and his match-winning break of 124 in the deciding frame was Selby at his best.

Whether he can reproduce that form against Robertson remains to be seen, but he raised his game with every step when winning the English and Scottish Opens earlier this term and the Crucible and a sniff of the one-table set up has always brought out the best in him.

While Selby is famed for his almost peerless tactical brain and an insatiable desire to outmanoeuvre his opponents in scrappy frames, Robertson's supreme breakbuilding has been the foundation for his success.

However, he has really developed his safety game in the last 18 months and has been at pains to stress how his inability to manage bad sessions has been the reason he hasn't, as yet, been able to add to his victory here in 2010.

Indeed, he had looked the standout player until falling prey to a masterful performance from John Higgins at this very stage last year and it seems safe to assume that he will be on his guard to ensure he doesn't fall victim to another former world champion - one not too dissimilar in style - this time around.

Robertson is now a more well-rounded player than he was earlier in his career and while this has all the hallmarks of another classic, Selby's scoring will need to be much more consistent that it has been if he is to compete. As such, Robertson is hard to oppose for all 8/15 makes little appeal.

Prediction: Selby 13-10 Robertson

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