2022 European Masters: Second Round Predictions

This is the third day of the 2022 European Masters and 16 matches will take place between the last 32 participants. Like in the first round, the matches will be played to the best of nine frames. This increases during the semi-finals and final which sees the best of 11 and 17 frames played respectively.

We have the full fixture list below as well as our predictions for players advancing to round three.

The Fixtures for the 2022 European Masters

We have the full fixtures list below for the second round of the competition. Take a look at the upcoming 16 matches and see which ones catch your eye if you are planning to place bets.

In the tables below, you can find the full list of fixtures for Round 2.

Top Half

Bottom Half

Our Match Predictions

Now we have covered the fixtures for the second round of the 2022 European Masters, you can find our predictions for them below:

Matches to Look Out For

The number of matches have halved from the first round, and we are now down to 16. It is getting easier to keep tabs on the matches, however, if you are still unsure of which ones to follow, we will spill all the details below.

You can find several matches in the next section that are sure to be interesting.

Jordan Brown vs Xiao Guodong

Jordan Brown has progressed to the second round after causing a huge upset defeating world number one Mark Selby. Brown got off to a great start with a break of 118 in the first frame. Despite the subsequent frames being fairly even across both players, Brown sealed the win with a 55-68 on the last frame, knocking the favourite of the tournament out in round one.

Brown has a current world ranking of 24 and won his first ranked title last year during the Welsh Open in February. For the current season, Brown has a winning frame percentage of 53.18% with 100 break rate of 21.63.

Xiao Guodong’s world ranking is currently 34 and has a number of medals for representing China for Men’s snooker. Guodong achieved a comfortable victory over Andy Hicks in round one with a final score of 5-2. He has a slightly lower frames won percentage than Brown for the season at 49.47%.

These two players have a short history together, with Guodong winning both matches against Brown. Despite the history in favour of Guodong, we think Brown's fantastic performance against Selby will instill some confidence into him, which is why Brown is our choice for progressing into round three.

Our match prediction: Jordan Brown to win.

Kyren Wilson vs Fan Zhengyi

Snooker fans won’t be surprised to hear that Kyren Wilson succeeded in his round one match against Jamie Jones. ‘The Warrior’ sits in fifth place for the current world rankings and has gone from strength to strength since turning professional in 2010. Wilson is on form this season, backed up by his frames won percentage at 57.22%.

Fan Zhengyi, with a world ranking of 80, will certainly have to dig deep to cause an upset here. At just 21 years old, Zhengyi only has three years to his name as a professional snooker player and his best ranking finish was at the 2022 German Masters where he lost out in the quarter-finals.

Wilson and Zhengyi have played twice before, with Wilson taking both victories. The huge upset causing Mark Selby to crash out of the tournament shows that it’s not impossible for Zhengyi to pull something off, however, we have to back Wilson to win this match as the statistics point in unequivocally in his favour.

Our match prediction: Kyren Wilson to win.

Yan Bingtao vs Joe Perry

Yan Bingtao comfortably entered round two with a 5-1 win against Li Hang. 22 year old Bingtao is having a fantastic season with one of the highest frames won percentages at 61.68%. This towers over Joe Perry’s percentage at 47.37%. Both players have one ranking title apiece, however, Bingtao is certainly showing promise for his career with his recent Triple Crown event win in 2021.

Both players have met on the snooker table three times before. If Perry wins this match, it would even the field between them, and show experience is a more important factor for success. However, we think youngster Bingtao will be able to get a win under his belt, paving way for new talent and generation to enter the snooker pool.

Our match prediction: Yan Bingtao to win.

Pang Junxu vs Neil Robertson

If this match is anything like Neil Robertson’s round 1 whitewash, Pang Junxu is in for a shock. In the first four frames, the ‘Thunder from Down Under’ had four centuries and Alfie Burden didn’t have the chance to pot a single ball. Roberson is on fantastic form this season, with a percentage ‘frames won’ rate of 61.00%. Ranking fourth in the world currently, he’s up against Junxu who ranks 63rd.

Robertson is a formidable opponent and rookie Junxu will be tested in this match. Despite having a fairly good ‘frames won’ percentage of 52.17% for the season, despite any major blunders from Robertson, it doesn’t look hopeful for the 22 year old.

The history for these two points to the same tournament in 2020 where Robertson defeated Junxu 5-2 in round four. Robertson is undoubtably the better player, with both experience and skill on his side, so we absolutely have to back him for the victory here.

Our match prediction: Neil Robertson to win.

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Wu Yize

This match can almost speak for itself. On the one hand, we have the world’s second best player with a total of 38 ranking titles to his name against one of the youngest players in the tournament only entering the professional snooker scene last year. If there was any two players to represent David and Goliath, it would be these two.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s accolades certainly speak for themselves, and we are sure Wu Yize will be feeling the pressure to perform well. These players have yet to meet, so there isn’t any history to fall back on, however, it would be a tall-order to back Yize for the win.

Our match prediction: Ronnie O’Sullivan to win.

Kurt Maflin vs Judd Trump

Both Kurt Maflin and Judd Trump progressed to round two with a 5-4 win over their opponents. This match, however, could be an easier one in favour of Trump. He has a ‘frames won’ percentage of 62.83% for the current season which towers over Maflin’s 49.02%. Trump’s success has yet to peak, adding an additional five ranking titles during the 2020/21 season. In comparison, Maflin is still yet to win his first title in this area.

Maflin and Trump have met once before at the China Open in 2014, where Trump sealed a 5-1 victory. The odds and statistics firmly sit with Trump as the favourite and we have no issue with backing him for the win in this match.

Our match prediction: Judd Trump to win.

John Higgins vs Tom Ford

John Higgins and Tom Ford are going head-to-head. Eyes will of course be on Higgins as the statistically stronger player to seal his progression into the next round. As the current 6th best player in the world, Higgins is having a strong season with a ‘frames won’ percentage of 58.87%. He will also be looking to add another ranking title to his impressive total of 31.

Ford is ranked at 26th in the world and isn’t too far off Higgins’ statistics with a ‘frames won’ percentage for the season of 55.49%. This would be Ford’s first ranking title if he was to with the tournament.

The pair have a long history with a total of twelve official tournament matches. Ford has only managed to win twice, so if this is anything to go off, Higgins should be feeling confident going into this round two match. We have to back to better player here, so our prediction is for Higgins to take the victory.

Our match prediction: John Higgins to win.