World Snooker Championship quarter-final predictions and snooker betting tips: Rocket set for his first real test

Where to watch the World Snooker Championship

Live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer & TNT Sports, from 10am Tuesday

Best bets for the quarter-final of the World Snooker Championship

Over 4.5 centuries in Luca Brecel vs Judd Trump
1pt 11-10 bet365, BoyleSports

Si Jiahui +3.5 frames on the handicap vs Ronnie O'Sullivan
2pts 11-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Mark Williams to beat John Higgins
1pt 11-8 general

Chris Wakelin to beat Zhao Xintong
1pt 19-10 general

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World Snooker Championship predictions

Luca Brecel vs Judd Trump predictions

Match starts 2.30pm

The enigma that is Luca Brecel delivered a barrage of big breaks to overcome Ding Junhui in the second round, but a last-eight clash with world number one Judd Trump is a tougher test.

Brecel does things his own way and, having caused a stir with his World Championship title success of two years ago, the Belgian Bullet is not one to ever write off with confidence.

However, Trump has looked in imperious form, winning 10-4 against Zhou Yuelong before fending off a Shaun Murphy fightback with a 13-10 success.

The Ace in the Pack has registered seven centuries plus four further breaks of 90-plus across those two tournament victories and it is looking like he has peaked perfectly in his pursuit of a second Crucible crown.

Brecel’s first two sessions in his resounding 13-4 success over Ding featured five tons and there should be plenty more centuries to celebrate in what should prove to be an all-out attacking encounter.

Trump's last-16 victory over Murphy featured four centuries but further breaks of 99, 98, 97 and 92 show that on a different day there could have been even more tons and there is something about the Crucible experience that seems to bring out the best in Brecel.

By Aaron Ashley

Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Si Jiahui predictions

Match starts 2.30pm

Freshness has proved to be no disadvantage for Ronnie O’Sullivan as he bids to claim a modern-record eighth World Championship title, but quarter-final rival Si Jiahui could prove tougher to pass than the Rocket’s early victims Ali Carter or Pang Junxu.

Si, a semi-finalist on his Crucible debut two years ago, has produced a couple of mature performances to get the better of Dave Gilbert and Mark Selby’s conqueror Ben Woollaston.

The Chinese cueman has an all-round game and temperament that is well-suited to the Sheffield extravaganza. And having defeated the Rocket 6-4 in their previous meeting at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters, Si may not be disgraced in this best-of-25 encounter.

Punters may want to consider a handicap bet on the 22-year-old against the Rocket, who has fallen at this stage of the Crucible in the last two seasons against Stuart Bingham and Luca Brecel.

O’Sullivan has dropped only four frames in each of his wins over Carter and Pang but they each underperformed and there is still some doubt as to where his level is currently at having been virtually inactive since January.

By Aaron Ashley

John Higgins vs Mark Williams predictions

Match starts 10am

There’s a clash of the Class of ‘92 when familiar foes John Higgins and Mark Williams meet in a World Championship quarter final on Tuesday morning. 

The pair have contested 66 matches in their long careers, with the Wizard of Wishaw leading 38-24 on head-to-head meetings. 

The Scot was forced to dig deep to down Xiao Guodong 13-12 in round two and that was a battle which needed an extra session to find a conclusion. 

Higgins has had a couple of days to recover from that 25-frame thriller, but it was a gruelling contest and the four-time world champion was a long way short of his best for the bulk of that second-round tie. 

Williams looked in good touch when downing Hossein Vafaei 13-10 in round two and the challenge of talented youngster Wu Yize was dismissed 10-8 in the Welshman’s opening Crucible contest. 

The three-time Sheffield hero made breaks of 115 and 122 in his last-16 success over Vafaei and Williams is a dangerous performer when big breaks are added to his rock-solid matchplay. 

At 11-8, there may be small value in punting the Welsh potting machine to reach an eighth World Championship semi-final. 

By Henry Hardwicke

Zhao Xintong vs Chris Wakelin predictions

Match starts 10am

Zhao Xintong made a series of big breaks to blitz Jak Jones 10-4 in round one, but the Chinese cueman was forced to work harder by countryman Lei Peifan at the last-16 stage. 

Xintong was a big ante-post mover following his superb form in the World Championship qualifiers and there is no doubt the Cyclone has hopes of winning the Sheffield showpiece. 

However, a 13-10 win over Peifan isn't an outstanding piece of form and the 28-year-old could face a tough test against quarter-final opponent Chris Wakelin. 

Wakelin’s 13-6 second-round win over Mark Allen has to be viewed as one of the most impressive efforts at the Crucible this term and the Rugby potter barely missed a ball for a seven-frame period. 

The 33-year-old has made two ranking event finals in the last two seasons and the level of performance in victory over Allen wasn’t a bolt from the blue. 

Wakelin appears to be handling the pressure of playing at the Crucible a little better this year and, at 19-10, he looks a bet to reach the semi-finals. 

By Henry Hardwicke

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