Chris Wakelin v Ding Junhui: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Ding Junhui has his sights firmly set on landing a second success in the International Championship in his native China, with Chris Wakelin standing in his path for Sunday's final.

Ding looked in huge trouble in the semi-finals but he recovered from 3-0 and 5-2 down to power past his compatriot Xu Si.

Wakelin had advanced to the final after an epic 9-8 win over Xiao Guodong in the first semi-final. A best-of-19 final awaits the duo in this decider.

Chris Wakelin v Ding Junhui betting tips and predictions

Total frames 2-way over 16.5 – 4/5

Calling this decider confidently is a challenge. World number nine Ding had won just three matches in ranking events this season before this week. He is aiming for a 15th ranking title in all and will be playing in his 24th ranking final but it is five years since he won one of these.

The Chinese star has lost his last three ranking finals, at the UK Championship in 2022 and 2023 as well as the 2024 World Open, but he will be desperate to complete the job on home soil. He is assured of a massive backing from a partisan crowd, but those recent losses in finals remain a worry for the odds-on favourite.

Wakelin has already achieved something by getting this far. The £75,000 he is guaranteed will lift him into the top 16 of the world rankings for the first time in his career.

It could well turn into a tit-for-tat final and one that remains close throughout. It would be a shock should either player run away with it.

Wakelin has come through deciding frames in the quarters and semis. Ding only dropped one frame in wins over Martin O'Donnell and Hossein Vafaei but was pushed a whole lot harder by Jiang Jun, Kyren Wilson and Si. It may take at least 17 frames to find a winner.

Race to four frames – Chris Wakelin – 6/5

With the 'shackles off' for Wakelin, the 32-year-old Nuneaton potter is capable of a fast start.

Wakelin was runner-up to Judd Trump in the 2023 Northern Ireland Open and has beaten three former world champions en route to the final – Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and John Higgins – he certainly merits reaching this point.

Ding started slowly in his semi-final, trailing 3-0 and 5-2, before staging a comeback. He will have the support behind him and Wakelin showed some signs of nerves as he let an 8-5 lead slip away in his semi-final before closing it out with a fine break.

He admitted afterwards it was the 'hardest match of my life' but it should stand him in good stead for the final and a quick start would greatly aid his cause.

Ding, the winner of this tournament in 2013, will be under enormous pressure to deliver for the home crowd and it might take him some time to settle. Wakelin can win the race to four frames.

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Chris Wakelin v Ding Junhui odds

Chris Wakelin - 6/4
Ding Junhui - 8/15

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.