Hawkins vs Yize Prediction
🔊 The first major snooker tournament of the season is finally here. The main draw of the Masters in Shanghai kicks off, with Barry Hawkins facing off against Wu Yize in the opening round. Can we expect an exhilarating matchup? Let's delve into it. Our editorial team offers their prediction for the clash. The winner will be decided in a best-of-11 frames format.
Head-to-Head
The players have faced each other twice, with the head-to-head record tied at 1-1.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Barry Hawkins Player Overview
The player ranked number 9 has set high expectations for the season. Such a lofty position indeed demands a strong performance. Barry needs deep runs in tournaments, but the competition is quite formidable. The first major event of the season is just around the corner.
The Englishman has already played three matches in the new season and has had some success. In the Champions League, he couldn't progress beyond the group stage, but that's understandable given the short format of that tournament (4 frames). In the upcoming event, there's more room for error. In his last match, Hawkins lost to Haydon Pinhey without winning a frame. As for his statistics, there's not much to report; he only has a few 50+ point breaks, and there haven't been many opportunities to score a century.
Match Results: Barry Hawkins
Wu Yize Player Overview
The Chinese player has settled at the 20th spot in the rankings. Understandably, most eyes this season will be on Zhao Xintong, but you can't overlook Yize's potential to surprise. This season will be crucial: either he'll solidify his success, or there might be a setback, as he's still quite young in the snooker world.
The young player managed to get past the first round of the Champions League, unlike his rival, but didn't make it through the second group. Yize shines in short formats with his aggressive style of play, though luck played a role and there were some errors along the way. So far this season, the Chinese player has tallied 10 breaks of 50+ points and already has 2 centuries, which is quite impressive considering the players are just getting started.
Match Results: Wu Yize
Editorial Prediction
Let's reiterate that the winner will be determined in a best-of-11 frames format. There's room for error, but it's debatable whether it's wise to use it. The opponents are evenly matched, making it pointless to pick a winner outright. Instead, let's focus on scoring potential: there's a significant chance for a high-scoring encounter. Why? It's quite straightforward. The players are still not in peak form, making it challenging for them to maintain consistency throughout the match and avoid unnecessary mistakes. We suggest betting on over 9.5 frames total.
Betting Tips: Barry Hawkins - Wu Yize