Mark Allen v Si Jiahui: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Mark Allen is renowned for being a player that turns up in peak form for the Masters and the 2018 champion will be expecting to overcome first-round opponent Si Jiahui.

Allen started the season slowly but a run to the semi-final of the UK Championship began his resurgence and he ended 2024 by winning the illustrious Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

The Pistol was also a Masters semi-finalist last season and he may be able to call upon all of that experience against Si, who is making his tournament debut.

The Chinese cueman is a player of immense potential, which was highlighted by his dream run to the World Championship semi-final in 2023, and there are sure to be plenty of big days ahead of him.

The 22-year-old is the youngest player in the world's top 16 and, while he is supremely talented, he is also still very raw and any mistakes are sure to be punished by Allen, who is hitting top form at the right time in the season.

Mark Allen v Si Jiahui betting tips and predictions

Mark Allen -1.5 frames on the handicap - 4/5

If discounting the chaotic Snooker Shoot Out, then Allen has won all three longer format matches with Si, which includes 4-1 victories at the Welsh Open in 2024 and the Northern Ireland Open in 2021.

The Chinese youngster has evidently come on a lot since then but the Masters is a tournament like no other, with the atmosphere something that can be hard for tournament debutants to get accustomed to.

Not only that, but Allen, champion in 2018 and a three-time semi-finalist, is a crowd favourite and thrives in this environment. 

In last season's event, the Pistol defeated John Higgins and Mark Selby before bumping into a fired-up Ali Carter in the final four, which ended a run of five straight first-round defeats.

The Northern Irishman is also finding his best form at the right time in the season and, discounting the one-framed madness that is the Snooker Shoot Out, he has won 13 of his last 16 matches.

Two of those three defeats finished 6-5, too, so Allen is pretty much involved in every match he plays at present and if Si fails to settle early this contest could be decided pretty quickly.

With that in mind, backing Allen to win by at least two frames at 4/5 could reap the rewards and the high-profile withdrawal of eight-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan will have the Northern Irishman believing that he can claim a second Masters crown.

Over 1.5 centuries - 4/5

Both of these players are extremely attacking and that should lend itself to a match full of big breaks, with over 1.5 centuries making plenty of appeal at a shade of odds-on.

Allen made one of two maximum 147 breaks in this competition last year and he has had 12 centuries across his last nine matches, so comes into this clash in excellent scoring form.

Si, meanwhile, compiled the first 147 maximum break of his career as he beat world number one Judd Trump 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open in October and he too is a competent breakbuilder.

The Chinese youngster has had 23 centuries this season, compiling one in two of his last three matches, and he could also play his part in what should be a captivating encounter.

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Mark Allen v Si Jiahui odds

Mark Allen - 1/2
Si Jiahui - 13/8

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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.