Neil Robertson vs Chris Wakelin Preview & Prediction | 2025 World Snooker Championship | First Round

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Former world champion Neil Robertson returns to the Crucible after missing out in qualifying last year, and takes on Chris Wakelin in the first round.

Start date/time: Saturday 19th April, 2025: UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC & TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & discovery+ / US – Cannot be streamed

Tickets: Visit here for the latest ticket information

Neil Robertson vs Chris Wakelin prediction

After a barren couple of years by his lofty standards, Neil Robertson has enjoyed a resurgence this season having won both the English Open and more recently the World Grand Prix last month.

The Thunder from Down-Under followed that with runs to the semi-finals of the Players Championship and a last-eight appearance at the Tour Championship, so the 2010 world champion looks in good form on his return to the Crucible.

World number 20 Chris Wakelin swept through two rounds of qualifying with relative ease this week, and is featuring in Sheffield for the fourth time after first-round exits in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

The 33-year-old, the Snooker Shoot Out winner in 2023, reached the final of the International Championship in November, and has reached the quarter-finals or better in a further three events this season.

Missing out at the Crucible last year will have hurt Robertson but he used that disappointment as fuel to climb back up the rankings. The former world number one should have too much for Wakelin here.

Neil Robertson vs Chris Wakelin tip: Neil Robertson to win with -2.5 frames handicap