Mark Williams vs Tom Ford Prediction: Both players expected to end their poor run

The opening day match between Mark Williams and Tom Ford will take place at Manchester Central. Both players have recently struggled in their performances. The Which player will advance to the next round?

Mark Williams recently suffered a defeat to John Higgins, losing 2-4 in the World Masters. This loss marks his third consecutive defeat, with previous losses against Anthony McGill and Mark Allen. However, in his last five matches, Williams secured victories against Sanderson Lam and John Astley. As he enters this upcoming game, Williams is considered the favorite, and he hopes to elevate his performance to secure another win.

Similar to his opponent, Tom Ford has been experiencing difficulties in achieving positive results recently. In his most recent match against Robbie Williams in the World Open, Ford narrowly lost by 5-4. This defeat marked his third consecutive loss, with previous losses against Ali Carter and Luca Brecel. However, it's noteworthy that Ford managed to defeat Barry Hawkins and Ian Burns in two of his last five games, which are his only victories in his last eight games.

Both Mark Williams and Tom Ford are currently not performing at their best levels, making this game highly anticipated and likely intense. Although Tom Ford appears to be in a lower form than Mark Williams at the moment, I believe this match will be closely contested. Ultimately, I predict that Mark Williams will emerge as the winner.