Wilson vs O´Sullivan Prediction

Karen ended his losing streak from last season. Technically, he did this earlier when he triumphed in the qualifying round for the Wuhan Open, but his first real test came in the last match. Questions about his gameplay remain.

Wilson only managed to edge out Si Jiahui in the deciding frame, trailing for most of the match. It's fair to say that Jiahui let the victory slip away rather than Wilson seizing it. The Chinese player had the chance to close out the game at 6-4 but faltered. Meanwhile, Karen put up decent stats with three breaks over 50 and three centuries, yet there was a lack of consistency. This is somewhat concerning as he now faces a living legend.

You can think whatever you like about Ronnie, but he remains in his prime. The snooker player is reshaping his career by playing less, and so far, it's working out. However, questions linger about potential titles. The top players on the tour have improved in technique and tactics, while O'Sullivan remains the same in that regard.

The previous round was a tough match; facing Barry Hawkins, it couldn't have been otherwise. Ronnie was constantly playing catch-up during the first half of the match, then he managed to win three consecutive frames. Yet Hawkins found the strength to come back. Luck might have played a part in the deciding frame, but it doesn't change the outcome. O'Sullivan made six breaks over 50 points but didn't manage to hit a century.