Snooker
Masters: Luca Brecel vs Chris Wakelin Odds, Tips and Prediction
Former World Champion Luca Brecel and Masters debutant Chris Wakelin face off in the opening round in London. Who will prevail in this contest at the famous Alexandra Palace? Both will commence battle on the iconic one-table setup as the pair contest the last first-round slot on Wednesday evening. Debutant Wakelin arrives in London as the man in form. Can he prevail against Brecel, who has only secured one victory in his four appearances? Many snooker betting offers are available to new and existing customers, including welcome bonuses, free bets, and odds boosts.
Judd Trump//Getty Images
Match Details
Date: Wednesday 15th January
Start time: 7 pm local time
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London
Last Meeting: 28th July – 2022 Championship League, Semi-final – Group 2, Brecel won 3-0
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Wakelin Slight Favourite
Luca Brecel: 11/10 (1.91) – 47.6%
Chris Wakelin: 8/11 (1.73) – 57.9%
*Forecast Odds*
Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-To-Head
A grand total of 33 matches have been played between these two over the years, with Trump winning 20 compared to Hawkins’ 13. Both players have met twice this season, and Trump has been victorious on both occasions, once in the UK Championship final and once in the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open.
In fact, Trump boasts a five-match winning streak against Hawkins. “The Hawk” last achieved a win over Trump in the final of the 2023 European Masters in Germany, where he defeated his fellow countryman 9-6. This victory revitalised Hawkins’ career, as he secured his first ranking event win in over six years. This matchup marks the fourth occasion on which both have played against each other at the Masters and crucially, Hawkins statistically has a 2-1 advantage over Trump. Hawkins showed his class and secured 6-5 and 6-4 victories over “The Ace in the Pack” in the 2022 and 2016 editions in the semi-finals. Despite these wins, he could never follow up in the final to win his first triple crown event.
Last Four Matches
| Tournament | Stage | Score line |
| 2022 Championship League | Semi-final (Group 2) | Luca Brecel 3-0 Chris Wakelin |
| 2020 Gibraltar Open | Last 64 | Luca Brecel 4-1 Chris Wakelin |
| 2018 Paul Hunter Classic | Last 32 | Chris Wakelin 4-2 Luca Brecel |
| 2017 European Masters | Semi-final | Luca Brecel 4-1 Chris Wakelin |
Player Career Timeline
Luca Brecel
- Ranking Seed: 7
- Masters Best Result: Quarterfinalist – 2019
The number seven seed Luca Brecel is set to make his fifth appearance in January but has only won one match at Ally Pally. The Belgian star defeated Mark Allen 6-5 in the 2019 edition but has yet to post another victory since.
Brecel is under increasing pressure by the tournament because he has to recover more than half a million pounds from his Order of Merit total after winning the 2023 World Championship. However, he can play this week with peace of mind, as it’s a non-ranking tournament and an opportunity to win another triple crown event.
His 2024/25 snooker season has been uneventful to say the least. He has only played in five tournaments, and aside from a run to the fifth round of the Saudi Arabia Masters, he has failed to make it past the third round of any tournament he has entered.
Last 5 Ranking Tournament Runs:
- 2024 UK Championship – 1st Round
- 2024 Northern Ireland Open – 2nd Round
- 2024 British Open – 3rd Round
- 2024 English Open – 2nd Round
- 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters – 5th Round
Last 4 Masters Appearances:
- 2024 – 1st Round
- 2023 – 1st Round
- 2019 – Quarterfinalist
- 2018 – 1st Round
Chris Wakelin
- Current Ranking: 16
Chris Wakelin has bounced back from missing the 2024 World Championship and is currently having his best season on the tour. The Englishman produced the goods at the International Championship, reaching his third-ranking final. Earlier in the season, he had a run to the English Open semi-final and the Wuhan Open quarter-final.
The former Snooker Shoot-Out winner lost in the first round of this year’s edition, but his form hasn’t deteriorated as he booked himself a place in the world’s top 16 for the first time and will debut at the famous Alexandra Palace.
The winner of Brecel vs Wakelin will play the winner of Kyren Wilson vs Zhang Anda in the quarterfinals. Wakelin’s form could spark an impressive run, but he is one of two players yet to participate in snooker’s most prolific invitational event.
Last 5 Ranking Tournament Runs:
- 2024 Snooker Shootout – 1st Round
- 2024 UK Championship – 2nd Round
- 2024 International Championship – Finalist
- 2024 Northern Ireland Open – 2nd Round
- 2024 Wuhan Open – Quarterfinalist
Chris Wakelin of England//Getty Images
Value Bets
Total Frames – Under 10.5: Both players have yet to play a best-of-11 frames contest but know the nature of the format. Wakelin is the slight favourite so he could edge this fixture due to Brecel’s sharp decline in form.
Total Frames Even/Odd – Even: Despite three of the last four meetings finishing with an odd number of frames, SportsBoom predicts this match will end with an even number. The format suits minor bouts of form, as the contest is a best-of-eleven; therefore, both players should undergo periods where they win consecutive frames.
Either Player to Win Successive Frames – Chris Wakelin: SportsBoom predicts that Wakelin will post successive frames in this fixture. Due to our prediction below, Wakelin has a higher probability of winning back-to-back frames. Wakelin’s previous record against Brecel is lacking, but his form going into the tournament could mark a dream debut.
Prediction: 6-4 Wakelin
SportsBoom predicts Wakelin will prevail with a 6-4 win against Brecel. Despite Brecel’s superior head-to-head record, his form downturn means Wakelin has the best opportunity to get his first Masters campaign off to a dream start. Brecel can only play who's in front of him, but a run at this triple crown event can catapult an essential run of form for the ranking events as the year progresses.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.