Wales have their Group B fate well and truly in their own hands having completed a second whitewash of the tournament in China. Two-time world champion Mark Williams, along with teammate Ryan Day, wasted little time in flexing their muscles in Wuxi as they beat Norway 5-0 and secured a 3-2 victory over Malaysia in their opening games. It was another clean sweep on Wednesday as they brushed aside Finland to maintain top spot. Wales top the group with two more games against second-placed China B and Brazil. China B are the defending champions, and Wales know a win in their fourth game will all but guarantee their quarter final berth.
It won’t be against the Chinese on home soil, with the teenage pair of Zhou Yuelong and Yan Bingtao for China B already in fine form. They’ve dropped only four frames in winning their opening three games to keep right on Wales’ toes, moving past Brazil 4-1 on Wednesday morning to staying with two points of the Group B leaders. With a point on the league table awarded for each frame won, it’s imperative not to suffer any sizable defeats in the round robin stage, as Wale and China B will be only too aware going into their meeting. Brazil remain in the hunt by virtue of a whitewash win over Malaysia in their opening game, keeping them in the mix as they also gained a 3-2 win against Finland before going down to China.
A comprehensive win for Wales or China B, paired with a Brazilian victory over Norway, would leave the South Americans holding a decent chance of progress ahead of their tussle with the Welsh.