Hawkins vs Williams Prediction 24 April 2026

Barry arrived in Sheffield in fighting form. Just a reminder, the snooker player clinched the Welsh Open title in early March. Since then, he's only played two matches but still left a positive impression. Now, onto the World Championship. The opening match has been played, and so far, there are no concerns.

Barry defeated Matthew Stevens with a score of 10-4. Was it a favorable draw? Certainly, but securing a convincing victory requires skill. Hawkins was impressive from the start and maintained his performance throughout both sessions, not allowing his opponent to gain momentum. The snooker player excelled in the tactical frames and consistently outperformed in shot exchanges. In terms of break-building, it wasn't a standout match for Hawkins; he only recorded four half-centuries.

Before the World Championship began, Mark had lost only a few matches out of his last ten encounters. Overall, he showed a level of sharpness that had been missing throughout the season. Williams delivered a series of solid performances, and this is significant: after all, he was last year's finalist in Sheffield.

In the round of 32 at the 2026 World Championship, Mark defeated Antoni Kowalski (10-4). Expectations might have been higher for the young Pole, but unfortunately, he couldn't deliver. While he held his own in the first session, he completely lost his composure in the second. Williams capitalized on his experience: though his shot accuracy wasn't extraordinary at 61 percent, he consistently made the necessary shots. In this match, the snooker player recorded four half-centuries and one century.