World Snooker Championship: Si Jiahui to Face David Gilbert in First Round
The 2025 World Snooker Championship is set to get underway, with a mouth-watering first-round match pitting Si Jiahui against David Gilbert. The two players will face off at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with a place in the second round up for grabs.
According to analysis from The Stats Zone, this is a difficult match to call, as both players have a history of performing well at the Crucible. Si Jiahui, just 22 years old, burst onto the scene last year, reaching the semi-finals on his debut. His attacking style of play made him a fan favourite, and he will be looking to replicate that form this year.
However, The Stats Zone notes that Jiahui’s more recent form has been less than convincing, with first-round exits in several events indicating a drop in confidence. Despite this, he has shown his potential by reaching two ranking finals since his semi-final appearance, most recently at the Wuhan Open in October.
David Gilbert, on the other hand, also has fond memories of the Crucible, having reached the semi-finals in both 2019 and last year. His best showings on tour this season have been quarter-final appearances at the Xi’an Grand Prix and British Open, and he will be hoping to channel the magic from his previous Crucible runs to go far in Sheffield once again.
In terms of how to watch the match, The Stats Zone reports that UK fans can tune in on BBC and TNT Sports, while those in the US will not be able to watch on TV. Online streaming options are also available for UK fans, via BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, and discovery+, but US fans will not be able to stream the match.
In their preview, The Stats Zone experts have backed Si Jiahui to win a close match, although they suggest that this could be one to stay away from in the betting markets. As they note, "You never know quite what to expect from Si Jiahui… Gilbert wasn’t exactly convincing in qualifying, reaching the main draw by the skin of his teeth in the final qualifying round."
The match is set to take place on Monday, April 21st, 2025, at 7:00pm UK time, 2:00pm US ET, and 11:00am US PT. Fans can find the latest ticket information here.
In conclusion, The Stats Zone tip for this match is Si Jiahui to win, and fans will be eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Source: The Stats Zone
The Stats Zone provides: "Si Jiahui vs David Gilbert tip: Si Jiahui to win"
