Zhao Xintong vs Wakelin Prediction

The reigning world champion is smoothly gearing up to defend his title. It won't be easy, as we know the World Championship holds numerous curses for its winners. Zhao has generally had a stellar 2026, securing victories in major tournaments and making deep runs in other events.

Losses are part of snooker, even against players who aren't at the top of the rankings. In Wales, Xintong fell to Stuart Bingham (2-4), and he couldn't overcome Gary Wilson at the World Open (2-5). These defeats shouldn't be overestimated, as his opponents played their best matches. Zhao Xintong remains one of the most formidable contenders on the tour, especially in longer formats.

Chris has already taken to the table in this tournament, and what a match it was! Given his previous performances, few would have expected such a spirited display from the snooker player. Wakelin, who had shown little in 2026, proved that it's too soon to write him off. His clash against Wu Yize might just draw some new fans to the sport. Let's delve into the details.

The Englishman secured a 10-6 victory over the Chinese competitor. Yet, there's a remarkable aspect of this win. After the first session, he was trailing 2-6. Simple math reveals how the second day of play concluded. Whatever transpired overnight remains a mystery, but it's worth noting that the match wasn't rich in high breaks and turned out to be quite scrappy. Wakelin managed only three half-centuries and one century break, with his pot success rate at 68 percent.