Will “The Iceman” prevail against a well-rested Smith?
Gerwyn Price, who recently became a grandfather at the age of 41, certainly made a statement on Wednesday evening in Blackpool when he crushed Rob Cross 11-5 in a clash between two former world champions. In the process, “The Iceman” even managed a 161 checkout. Given his current form, the top bookmakers clearly see him as the favorite.
Nevertheless, when betting on Ross Smith vs. Gerwyn Price, it’s important to note that Smudger is heading into this quarterfinal significantly more rested. The Englishman received an unexpected bye on Wednesday when his Scottish opponent, Cameron Menzies, surprisingly fainted while leading 2-1 and had to forfeit the match.
On the other hand, due to this brief appearance, Ross Smith is also somewhat lacking rhythm, while Gerwyn Price is clearly back in the flow. The Iceman not only demonstrated with the aforementioned 161 checkout that his scoring power and accuracy in crucial moments are back, but also displayed the dominance that the crowd at the Winter Gardens has come to expect from a former world champion.
Against this backdrop, our prediction for Ross Smith vs. Gerwyn Price is a victory for the Welshman, who could thus avenge his narrow 9-11 loss to “Smudger” a year ago at the World Matchplay. It was the only one of six meetings at major tournaments that “The Iceman” has lost to the Englishman.
For those who find betting on the favored Welshman to win too risky—especially given the relatively low odds—an alternative is to bet that “The Iceman” will once again record the highest checkout of the match.
Ross Smith – Gerwyn Price Head-to-Head Record
Head-to-Head: 3:5
The two players have faced off eight times so far, and with five wins, Gerwyn Price holds the edge in their head-to-head record. It’s worth noting that there have been six matchups between the two players at the major level, and “The Iceman” recorded all five of his wins in those matches. In major tournaments, he actually leads the head-to-head record 5:1. However, exactly one year ago, he suffered a narrow 9:11 defeat to Ross Smith in the round of 16 at the World Matchplay here in Blackpool…
Ross Smith – Gerwyn Price Prediction
Due to his round-of-16 opponent’s medical emergency, Ross Smith didn’t really have to prove much to make it into the final eight at the World Matchplay. That said, he’s likely to be the more well-rested player.
Gerwyn Price, on the other hand, played his way into a veritable frenzy late Wednesday evening and looked as confident and strong as in his prime during his 11-5 victory over Rob Cross. It’s quite possible that match—featuring that memorable 161 checkout—will prove to be a lasting breakthrough, and that “The Iceman” is now on a roll.
Given that the 41-year-old Welshman has usually had the upper hand against Smudger in major tournaments, we therefore recommend, without further ado, betting on “The Iceman” to secure his spot in the semifinals. For this match, Bet-at-home is offering odds of 1.55 on Ross Smith vs. Gerwyn Price, and we’re backing it with six out of ten units.
