Snooker betting tips: World Championship last-16 predictions, preview and best bets

The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield plays host to another fascinating day of elite snooker, where drama is never far from the surface. Thursday’s schedule is headlined by a blockbuster second-round encounter that sees a familiar face in Ronnie O’Sullivan back under the lights. Don’t forget to take advantage of the selected betting offers listed below to maximise your betting value.

Snooker betting tips: World Championship last-16 Predictions

Can The Veteran Hold Off A Rising Star On The Crucible Stage?

• O’Sullivan produced three century breaks in just five frames to close out his first-round match 10-4.
• Pang Junxu won from 7-5 down in round one, aided by breaks of 102, 65, 58 and 55.
• O’Sullivan is featuring in his 33rd straight World Championship and is seeking an eighth crown to surpass Hendry.

Our Tips

After a commanding first-round performance, he returns to action against the quietly confident Pang Junxu, who has his own ambitions to upset the script.

The afternoon session is expected to begin at 2:30pm BST, with live coverage shared between BBC Two and TNT Sports. As the World Championship moves into its business end, every frame begins to matter more. The stakes are high not only for silverware but for the players’ legacies, as records, form, and experience all mix to create a pressure cooker that only the most composed can survive.

O’Sullivan, a name synonymous with snooker’s grandest theatre, enters his 33rd consecutive Crucible campaign. Meanwhile, Pang continues his own journey of progression, hoping this is the edition where potential turns into something more concrete. Both competitors approach this clash from contrasting narratives—O’Sullivan, the sport’s enigma who has recently prioritised mental wellbeing over silverware, and Pang, the Chinese talent trying to add big-match scalps to an already promising CV.

Thursday also sees further action in the ongoing second round, with attention split across multiple tables. Yet it’s the Rocket’s return that dominates headlines, and for good reason. A place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs, but equally at stake is the chance to build momentum towards the ultimate prize in the sport.

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Best Bet for the Day: O’Sullivan To Win, O’Sullivan To Win 1st Frame & O’Sullivan To Make Highest Match Break

Rationale:
After several months away from competitive action, Ronnie O’Sullivan made a dramatic return to form in the opening round against long-time rival Ali Carter, cruising to a 10-4 win after a slightly patchy opening session. What truly caught the eye wasn’t just the margin of victory but the manner in which it was achieved. The Rocket reeled off five consecutive frames in the second session, compiling three centuries in the process—a sequence that left little doubt about his sharpness.

Although Carter didn’t pose major problems, O’Sullivan’s performance oozed authority and focus. He gave no indication that his prolonged break had dulled his touch, and in fact, looked revitalised by it. With three century breaks in just five frames, he reasserted his position not only as a contender but as a serious threat to go all the way.

In contrast, Pang Junxu arrives on the back of a commendable 10-7 victory over Zhang Anda, recovering from a 7-5 deficit with notable composure. His breaks of 102, 65, 58 and 55 speak volumes about his ability. However, taking on O’Sullivan on this stage, in this form, is another challenge altogether. While Pang may compete in patches, it’s hard to see him denying O’Sullivan the first frame or the match’s highest break if the latter plays at anywhere near his round one standard.

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