We started with 32 players. After 24 arduous matches, all of the qualifiers are OUT. The three-time World Champion and current No. 1 is OUT. The fan favourite for this year’s title and No. 2 is OUT. Now only eight players are left and to be perfectly honest, there is no quarter-final tie here that isn’t mouth-watering. Also, just check your pulse!
The field is open as well. We have five out of the Top 8 players in the world. Favourites Ding Junhui and John Higgins have notched up four centuries each, surpassing the first two rounds with ease alongside Kyren Wilson, who impressively dispatched Welshman. On the other side of the scale, Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins laboured in their first round and got stronger as their Last 16 match went on. Only two of the final eight players have won the World Championship before. Will we see a new winner this year?
Mark Allen (16) vs. Kyren Wilson (9)
Head-to-head record: Wilson leads 6-5 in all professional competitions
Mark Allen has been very impressive this tournament yet has come completely under the radar in the eyes of the pundits. He comfortably beat debutant Liam Highfield and was involved in a high-quality match against Joe Perry who went against the odds by defeating Mark Selby in impressive fashion. Locked at 8-8, he stormed to the finish, romping home with five frames in the row at the final session with two centuries and a 74 break to reach his first quarter-final appearance since 2011, so long overdue.
Kyren Wilson’s impressive Crucible record continues by beating former Crucible finalist Matthew Stevens and the tenacious Jamie Jones, he reaches his third quarter-final in a row. Even though he took advantage of Stevens suffering from food poisoning by thrashing him 10-3, he scored 8 +50 breaks to beat the Welshman convincingly. He doesn’t even look like he’s going to crack under pressure nor give away any silly frames!
A very intriguing tie since they have already played against each other 5 times this season. It is even more puzzling when Wilson has beaten Allen in the World Championships before as an unseeded player, winning the Last 16 tie 13-9 and Allen won their last Triple Crown tie, which the Paul Hunter Trophy going to Mark Allen this season, with the Pistol winning at 10 frames to 7. It will be very hard to separate them as Allen is the better scorer yet Wilson has probably one of the steeliest temperaments on the tour. It will be very tight, but I can see Wilson winning this but in a very close, well-fought match.
Winner prediction: Kyren Wilson beats Mark Allen 13-10.
John Higgins (5) vs. Judd Trump (4)
Head-to-head record: Higgins leads 19-9 (and one draw) in all professional competitions
After winning two ranking events, John Higgins got a tough opening draw in Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and showed signs of weakness as he failed to stop Un-Nooh in full flow and got himself frustrated. However, one shot too many from the Thai let The Wizard from Whishaw to clinch the victory. You can argue in the next round that Jack Lisowski’s inexperience in the Last 16 let him down, but Higgins was simply awesome. Six +50 breaks and three centuries later and he won 13-1. That ups the fear factor!
Judd Trump has by his own admission is having a bad season, despite winning and defending the European Open in Belgium earlier this year. He mentioned in an interview that this was due to bad losses and being inconsistent, a lot more than the past two seasons. Despite being drawn to a debutant who he beat seven times before, he was put through the wringer by Chris Wakelin who came back from 8-4 down to a decider before winning on the colours. He performed much better against Ricky Walden who battled well until Ace turned it up a notch to rally five frames in a row.
Of course, many people mentioned that the last time the pair met in the Worlds was in the 2011 final where Higgins triumphed 18-15. Trump will be better in that match but to compete against Higgins in the form that he is in, the pundits of Parrott and Hendry say Trump needs to perform like he did in the final session against Ricky Walden. Trump annoyingly, still has the tendency to throw a frame away while Higgins seems completely bulletproof at the moment in scoring and safety. Of course, I would love Trump to win it, but in form and head-to-head record, I think the semi-final sport will go to the Scot.
Winner prediction: John Higgins beats Judd Trump 13-8.
Ding Junhui (3) vs. Barry Hawkins (6)
Head-to-head record: Both are neck and neck at 7-7 in all professional competitions
Ding is becoming more and more popular by the minute. Considering he hadn’t reached a World Championship semi-final for five seasons he has reached the final and the semi-final in the last two years, both beaten by Mark Selby. With Selby out and the Rocket gone, Ding is one of the favourites, if not, the favourite for the title. Based on this tournament, he’s proving it. He thrashed compatriot Xiao Guodong 10-3 and Anthony McGill 13-4, with thirteen +50 breaks and four century breaks. Famed for being one of the best break-builders amongst the balls, this Yorkshire Dragon is on fire!
Barry Hawkins has one of the best Crucible records around. In the past five seasons, he reached the final, three semi-finals and a quarter-final. Like Judd, he also got better as the tournament went on. He struggled against Stuart Carrington, but he was able to go through under a 10-7 scoreline. He then beat the up-and-coming Lyu Haotian 13-10, with experience and his temperament got him through.
Normally, everyone would plump for Ding. But let’s not forget, Hawkins beat Ding 13-7 at this very stage in 2013 and since then, Ding won three of their most recent four meetings. I can see this going all the way, with Ding’s break-building and Hawkins taking the scrappy frames. I can see Ding taking it, as long as he doesn’t see the finish line too early.
Winner prediction: Ding Junhui beats Barry Hawkins 13-12.
Mark Williams (7) vs. Ali Carter (15)
Head-to-head record: Williams leads 14-12 (and one draw) in all professional competitions
Mark Williams is certainly the most improved player of the season and he has taken the form of winning three titles to comfortably pushed aside Jimmy Robertson 10-5 and is the last of the players to reach the quarter-finals by winning Neil Robertson-conqueror Robert Milkins 13-7. He only had one bad session about Milkins and showed signs of frustration, but he is playing like he has nothing to lose. Speaking of frustrations…….
A bruised and battered Ali Carter staggered from the bloodied battlefield with steam bellowing from his nostrils clutching the heart of Ronnie O’Sullivan in his grazed hand (the BBC version). Ali Carter nudged shoulders and exchanged heated words and both passed it off as nothing and moved on (the real version). Ali grabbed the bull by the horns with his long potting against O’Sullivan and thoroughly deserved his win and transferred his gritty determination when coming back to beat Dott in the opening round to finally score his only win over the Rocket after 14 straight losses excluding the Championship League. He roars and fist pumps say it all about his confidence.
The head-to-head record is surprisingly close to even, though Williams hasn’t won since 2016 and Carter won their recent meeting in the Romanian Masters this year. I can see Williams carrying that confidence though – his all-round game is better than Carter’s but he will be wary that Carter won’t go away without a fight!
Winner prediction: Mark Williams beats Ali Carter 13-9.
Which do you think is the most mouth-watering quarter-final tie of the #worldsnookerchampionship2018! #ilovesnooker
— Cluster of Reds (@clusterofreds1) April 30, 2018
