The second round of the World Championship at the Crucible features Ronnie O’Sullivan, the sport’s biggest icon, up against the rising Chinese talent Pang Junxu. While most will rightly consider O’Sullivan the heavy favourite, Pang has shown strong resilience and shot-making abilities that suggest he can at least keep the scoreline competitive. With the match played over a best-of-25 format (first to 13), there’s plenty of room for frames, and a tighter contest than some may expect could be on the cards.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Junxu Pang Preview
Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan continues to defy time and expectation. A seven-time world champion, he breezed through his opening round match against Ali Carter, putting in a composed and clinical performance that looked ominous for the rest of the field. While Ronnie hasn’t dominated every tournament this season, his Crucible presence is always powerful and intimidating. That said, O’Sullivan is known to occasionally drop frames against lesser-known players, especially in earlier rounds, before stepping up a gear when needed.
Pang Junxu is part of the exciting wave of Chinese snooker players making their mark on the professional circuit. His first-round victory over Zhang Anda (10-7) showcased his composure and improving all-around game. Though still relatively new to the Crucible stage compared to his legendary opponent, Pang is not expected to crumble easily. He plays a solid tactical game and can string together breaks when given chances, making him capable of pushing a few sessions and taking multiple frames off Ronnie.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Junxu Pang – Match Analysis
While O’Sullivan will almost certainly control large portions of this match, it’s unlikely to be a complete whitewash. Pang is steady enough to take advantage of any dips in concentration from Ronnie, especially during the middle sessions. Given that the Rocket doesn’t always close out second-round matches with brutal efficiency, there’s strong reason to believe that Pang can push the scoreline into double digits or at least beyond the over line.
Betting Tip – Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Junxu Pang
This match feels tailor-made for an Over 19.5 Frames bet. Even if Ronnie wins with relative ease, a 13-7 or 13-8 result is entirely plausible given Pang’s skill and determination. With the match format allowing for longer battles and O’Sullivan unlikely to be at full throttle from start to finish, backing the over offers good value and room for a few swings in momentum.
Betting Tip: Over 19.5 Frames
Betting Odds: 1.50
Bookmaker: Cloudbet