Final Qualifying Round Preview
Ryan Day Vs Ben Woollaston - Saturday morning (completion in evening)Ryan Day is going to have a really tough match on his hands as he plays Ben Woollaston for a Last 32 spot. Ryan hasn't had the best season, but he did beat Ding Junhui to get to the Last 16 of the UK Championships, and was a quarter-finalist in this event last year. However, Ben scored a comfortable 10-3 win against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the last round, scoring quite heavily and that makes him my pick.
Prediction: Ben Woollaston win, 10-7.
Andrew Higginson Vs Michael White - Saturday morning/evening
This has been a really tough match for me to call. I'm a big fan of Andrew Higginson and often find myself disappointed as he loses big matches from winning positions. Michael White is a talented youngster and beat Zhang Anda comfortably in the last round, making 2 centuries and scoring generally well. He qualified for the UK Championship earlier this season and was unlucky to meet Mark Selby in the first round. Experience could tell here though and I have to go with Higginson
Prediction: 10-8 to Higginson
Ken Doherty Vs Matthew Selt - Saturday afternoon/ Sunday afternoon
At first glance, it's fair to say that there's only one winner: Ken Doherty. He has the experience of the long matches and loves the big matches. Selt though is a good player and played well against Thirapongpaiboon in the last round. He could really give Ken a run for his money here but I still only see one winner.
Prediction: Doherty to win 10-7
Fergal O'Brien Vs Jack Lisowski - Saturday morning/evening
Can Fergal stop the runaway Lisowski train? Probably not. Will he give it a go? Absolutely. O'Brien has experience of these matches, and that is the only thing that could send this match his way. Lisowski is fearless and beat Wattana in the last round, and is scoring for fun and that should be enough for him to qualify.
Prediction: Lisowski to win 10-6 or better
Jamie Cope Vs Dechawat Poomjaeng - Saturday morning/evening
Poor old Jamie Cope is really struggling for form at the moment, and he's on such a poor run that I can't see him winning a match. This for me is a great chance for Dechawat who has already beaten Michael Leslie, Liu Chuang and Anthony Hamilton and is playing quite nicely. I can only see one winner here unfortunately.
Prediction: 10-8 to Poomjaeng
Michael Holt Vs Mark Joyce - Saturday morning/evening
This is an intriguing match, and one that I make Holty a big favourite for. Joyce has played well at times this season, especially against Trump in the UK's. However, Holt has come close to some big victories this season, and I fancy him to cause a shock at The Crucible - should he make it. Which for my money he will do.
Prediction: 10-7 to Holt
Marco Fu Vs David Gilbert - Saturday morning/evening
Fu is in the best form of all the qualifiers this season. He's upset a lot of top 16 players in the first round, as well as getting to the German Masters final, and he appears to have found his form he showed a couple of years ago. Gilbert meanwhile is a player I enjoyed watching last year when he beat Martin Gould, and if he could upset Fu here it wouldn't be surprising. He came through a tough test in the last round, and ended Tony Drago's good run. It should be close, but the Hong Kong man should take it.
Prediction: 10-7 to Fu
Tom Ford Vs Alan McManus - Saturday afternoon/Sunday afternoon
Ford will be a hot favourite over Angles here, but there's no reason why McManus couldn't win it. The scot has so far come through scrappy affairs against Mehta and Bond. Tom Ford will be full of confidence after his semi-final appearance in the PTC Finals, and as long he doesn't get bogged down by Angles he should comfortably head through.
Prediction: Ford to win 10-7 or better
Martin Gould Vs Rod Lawler - Saturday afternoon/Sunday afternoon
Gould will have lots of confidence after Championship League and Shoot-out titles going to him so far in 2013 and could easily cause some damage at The Crucible. Don't underestimate Lawler though, who has had an incredible comeback season. After coming through Q School, he has won a PTC event and is already in the top 64. Lawler's best chance of victory will have to be by keeping it tight and frustrating Gould, who i'm sure will score big given the chance. I can't see that happening and Gould should be the winner on this occasion.
Prediction: 10-6 win for Martin Gould
Mark Davis Vs Liang Wenbo - Saturday afternoon/Sunday afternoon
Mark Davis is the unfortunate, world No.16 who has to qualify because of Ronnie O'Sullivan being the No.1 seed. He hasn't been given an easy ride through qualifying either, and could have hard work ahead of him in Liang Wenbo. Wenbo showed fantastic form, hitting 9 50's and a century break against Jimmy Robertson. On his day he could beat anyone and will hand a tough match to Mark, but I still think he'll go on through to the World Championships.
Prediction: 10-8 to Davis
Sunday Matches
Mark King Vs Yu DeLuThis should be a very close match, and Yu has played very well so far making 3 centuries in his last match. King will have a tough match here and I think that DeLu will do enough to win
Prediction: 10-8 to Yu DeLu
Marcus Campbell Vs Liam Highfield
This could be a tougher match than Marcus may have expected here, Highfield is playing well and has showed some fantastic fighting qualities from 4-0 down against Simon Bedford and 8-5 down against Jamie Jones. However, Highfield has had some long matches this week and if it goes close again, I don't think he would come through.
Prediction: Campbell to win 10-9
Joe Perry Vs Sam Baird
Perry is a big favourite for me to win his one, despite the good form shown in Baird's victories over Chen Zhe, Lines and McLeod so far. Perry has had a decent season and will want to end it by getting to The Crucible and getting to the Last 16 as he did last year. Experience could be a big factor in this one as Baird has never qualified for the World Championships before.
Prediction: A Perry victory, 10-6.
Dominic Dale Vs Alfie Burden
Dominic Dale hasn't really shone in any tournament this season, qualifying for events without really causing any upsets and he'll want to put that right. Alfie will be no walkover, as he has showed against Paul Davison and Dave Harold, coming from 4-0 down against Davison. The Welshmen should be the stronger on this occasion though and will fancy his chances of qualifying.
Prediction: 10-8 win for The Spaceman.
Peter Ebdon Vs Kurt Maflin
This time last year, Peter Ebdon came into the World Championship qualifiers having won the China Open, and then whitewashed Alfie Burden 10-0. This year, he hasn't won a single match in 2013. As much as he can practice for this, his form isn't there. Kurt Maflin on the other hand is in fantastic form. In the last round he beat Steve Davis 10-7, making 3 centuries in the process and he's made 4 centuries in total, in this years qualifiers. If Peter Ebdon plays how he has done in the back half of this season, he's in trouble.
Prediction: 10-7 to Maflin
Robert Milkins Vs Jimmy White
Jimmy White is one match away from the Crucible and i'm sure everyone will be cheering him on. He's looked good so far and has scored reasonably well in winning his first 2 matches. However, Robert Milkins has the quality of a top 16 player, and i'm sure he'll climb the few places he needs to next season to get there. Milkins has beaten quite a few players this season, most recently John Higgins at the China Open. Therefore, Jimmy unfortunately should be no match for him, but don't write him off yet.
Prediction: Milkins to win 10-7
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