World Snooker Championship day five predictions and snooker betting tips: Former champions Brecel and Selby may have to dig deep

Where to watch the World Snooker Championship

Live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer & TNT Sports, from 10am Wednesday

Best bets for day five of the World Snooker Championship

Over 16.5 frames in Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day
1pt Evs Betfair, Paddy Power

Ben Woollaston +4.5 frames on the handicap vs Mark Selby
1pt 10-11 general

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World Snooker Championship predictions

The two remaining World Championship first-round matches begin on Wednesday and there are a couple of former Crucible champions on show as four-time winner Mark Selby meets fellow Leicester potter Ben Woollaston while 2023 hero Luca Brecel lines up against Ryan Day.

Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day predictions

Match starts 2.30pm

Luca Brecel has been out of form more often than he has been playing well since claiming World Championship glory two seasons ago and three-time Sheffield quarter-finalist Ryan Day may be sensing the possibility of an upset in this Crucible curtain-raiser.

The Welshman should be feeling pretty sharp following a pair of 10-5 wins over Sanderson Lam and Sunny Akani in qualifying and he has a positive head-to-head record against the Belgian, having lost only three of their previous nine meetings.

However, Brecel has slowly started to produce with more regularity and has a habit of raising his game for the lucrative events, highlighted by his run to the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship final in December, when there was a prize worth £250,000 to the winner.

The Belgian Bullet was a semi-finalist at the Welsh Open when last seen in competitive action in February and, with the natural ability to turn it out when it matters, he is still a worthy favourite.

With two attacking players on show, this is a clash which should suit both parties and going over 16.5 frames may be the best approach. Day’s additional sharpness can ensure this is a tight contest.

Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston predictions

Match starts 7pm

After the first-round draw, Mark Selby claimed this had been one of the clashes that he had wanted to avoid as he faces his good friend and fellow Leicester potter Ben Woollaston and he may have to dig deep.

The four-time world champion is still expected to overcome the challenge and three titles this season, plus a run to the Tour Championship final last time out, suggest he could be peaking perfectly.

Woollaston is competing at the Crucible for the first time since 2013 and while that adds an extra element of pressure, his solid all-round game should ensure that he stays competitive.

The world number 44 edged past Mark Davis 10-9 before outclassing Ross Muir 10-4 in his final qualifier and the former ranking event runner-up appears to have the composure required to not be overawed by the occasion, so merits handicap support.

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