Two players on the fringes of the world’s top 16 meet in the first round of the Shanghai Masters with home favourite Zhang Anda hoping to delight the Chinese crowd with victory over Jack Lisowski.
Lisowski is a former semi-finalist and quarter-finalist at the Shanghai Masters and he claimed a belated first ranking title at last season’s Northern Ireland Open.
That breakthrough success after so many narrow misses could propel Lisowski to the next level and the world number 17 will be hoping to break back into the world’s top 16.
However, Anda is the world number 19 and will also have ambitions of qualifying for the Masters and being seeded at the World Championship and his sole ranking event success came in China at the International Championship in 2023.
Anda also finished runner-up at last season’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong so is a dangerous player when on-song, and he will have the backing of a passionate home crowd.
Jack Lisowski v Zhang Anda Tips Summary
Best Bet - Zhang Anda to win @ 8/13
Alternative Bet - Under 1.5 centuries @ 5/4
Jack Lisowski v Zhang Anda Prediction
Best Bet: Zhang Anda to win @ 8/13
Having lost their first eight encounters, Anda has won his last four meetings with Lisowski and the Chinese player can frank that form on home turf in Shanghai.
Anda tends to save his best for his homeland, where he won the 2023 International Championship in 2023, and he is a four-time ranking event finalist.
This is one of the first tournaments of the season so both will be expecting to progress but Anda defeated Alfie Burden 4-2 in his British Open qualifier last time out and is tactically excellent.
Lisowki is a difficult player to assess. A supreme scorer on his day but he can be blighted by inconsistencies and he was comfortably beaten 5-1 by Zak Surety at the Shenzhen Open last week, which suggests he is some way below his best.
Alternative Bet: Under 1.5 centuries @ 5/4
Although this is a best-of-11 contest, it could be scrappy as both players search for their best form and brush away the cobwebs.
Lisowski has played 11 matches so far this season and has yet to register a century while Anda has had eight centuries in his 14 matches, six of those came in the Championship League with no spectators.
There will be greater pressure on him in front of an expectant home crowd and, in what could be a tight scrap to the finishing line, winning frames will be more important than big breaks.
Jack Lisowski v Zhang Anda H2H Record & Stats
Jack Lisowski | 8 |
Zhang Anda | 4 |
Key Match Stats
- Lisowski won the first eight meetings but Anda has now won their last four rivalries
- Anda has had eight centuries in 16 matches this season
- Lisowski has yet to compile a century in 11 outings this season
- Anda has lost only three of his 16 appearances this term
- Lisowski has lost five of his 11 matches this season
- Anda has had the highest break in his last five meetings with Lisowski
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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.
