Chris Wakelin vs Neil Robertson Preview & Prediction | 2026 Champion of Champions | Semi-Final
by Trystan Pugh ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Chris Wakelin takes on two-time winner Neil Robertson in the first Champion of Champions semi-final on Friday.
Start date/time:
Venue: Mattioli Arena, Leicester, England
How to watch on TV & online: UK – ITV & ITVX / USA – FanDuel
Tickets: Visit here for the latest ticket information
Chris Wakelin vs Neil Robertson prediction
Chris Wakelin, who qualified for the Champion of Champions by winning the Scottish Open last December, reached his first semi-final here by winning Group One, beating Barry Hawkins 4-1 and then defending champion Mark Selby 6-2 in the group final.
A two-time winner of this event, Neil Robertson moved into his eighth Champion of Champions semi-final after coming through Group Four, where he beat Panchaya Channoi 4-2 and Jak Jones 6-3, knocking in a 130 break in the group final.
Robertson leads the head-to-head 8-3 across their professional meetings, including a 13-7 win in the last 16 of this year’s World Championship and a 6-2 win at the Masters in January. Wakelin’s three victories have all come since 2023: 5-4 at the German Masters, 10-8 at the 2025 World Championship and, most recently, a 5-2 win in the third round of the Shenzhen Open in October.
Both men have had patchy results at ranking events this season, with Wakelin losing in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open and Robertson doing likewise, before the Australian was beaten 6-4 by Wang Xinbo in the last 32 of the International Championship.
Wakelin has proved he can beat Robertson, and that Shenzhen win is a warning, but over a best-of-11 on the big stage we fancy Robertson to show his class, particularly as there have been some positive signs from the Thunder from Down Under in this tournament already.
Chris Wakelin vs Neil Robertson tip: Neil Robertson to win
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