Snooker
British Open: Martin O’Donnell vs Akani Songsermsawad Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Wednesday 24th September 2025 Start Time: 14:00pm UK time Venue: The Centaur, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Last meeting: 2024 Wuhan Open, Last 32, Martin O’Donnell 5-2 Akani Songsermsawad Martin O’Donnell and Akani Songsermsawad face off in the Last 32 of the British Open. With the game taking place on Wednesday, 24th September, the snooker world will see the duo play on the green baize in a best-of-seven frame encounter in Cheltenham, England. Neither player has won a ranking event, but this match presents an opportunity to secure a notable win and accumulate some significant ranking points. Which player will come out on top?
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Martin O'Donnell /Getty Images
This preview is brought to you by SportsBoom, your go-to destination for top-tier snooker insights, knowledge, and tournament coverage. This in-depth preview covers everything you need to know about this prestigious ranking event. It’s now a mainstay on the calendar, which all players would love to add to their trophy cabinets. We’ll break down the head-to-head records, current player form, smart betting tips, and give you our prediction for who’ll prevail in this matchup.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Akani Songsermsawad: 3/1 (4.00) – 25.0%
Martin O’Donnell: 1/4 (1.25) – 80.0%
Forecast odds – Betting available on Planetsport Bet closer to event
Head-to-Head
Martin O’Donnell and Akani Songsermsawad meet for the fifth time in their respective careers on Wednesday. The duo has played their previous four games from 2017 to 2024, with the latest one occurring at the 2024 Wuhan Open. Overall, O’Donnell has the edge and has won three of the four matches.
| Tournament | Stage | Score line |
| 2024 Wuhan Open | Last 32 | Martin O’Donnell 5-2 Akani Songsermsawad |
| 2021 WST Pro Series | Second Stage | Akani Songsermsawad 2-1 Martin O’Donnell |
| 2018 Snooker Shootout | Quarter-Final | Martin O’Donnell 48-9 Akani Songsermsawad |
| 2017 International Championship | Last 16 | Martin O’Donnell 6-5 Akani Songsermsawad |
Player Career Timeline
Martin O’Donnell
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 42
British Open best result: Second-Round (2021)
Martin O’Donnell is ranked 42nd in the world and has had a decent start to his 2025/26 season campaign. O’Donnell, best known as the ‘Minister of Defence,’ reached the fifth round of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. The 39-year-old most notably reached the final of the 2024 Welsh Open, which has played a huge role in revitalizing his career. This is his third stint on the tour after reclaiming his tour card in 2023.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
- 2025 English Open – 1st Round
- 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – 5th Round
- 2025 Championship League – Round Robin
- 2025 World Open – 1st Round
- 2024 Snooker Shootout – Quarter-Final
Akani Songsermsawad
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 72
British Open best result: First Round (2024)
Akani Songsermsawad is currently ranked 72nd in the world after regaining his tour card in 2024. He’s only featured in two tournaments this season, competing in the 2025 English Open and 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. This lack of game time has had a knock-on effect on his performances, winning only one game. Realistically, everyone knows of Songsermsawad’s talents as he was previously 44th in the world, but this could be a tough test for him.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
- 2025 English Open – 1st Round
- 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – 2nd Round
- 2025 World Open – 1st Round
- 2024 Xi’an Grand Prix – 2nd Round
- 2025 British Open – 2nd Round
Value Bets
Total Frames – Under 5.5 Frames
These first-round clashes are quick due to the format being first to four frames. This makes any game tricky, even for those in strong form. There’s some history between the two players, meaning we could expect a close game when judging one of the previous head-to-head games.
Total Frames Even/Odd – Odd
Based on our value bet that sees us predict this game to be completed in under 5.5 frames, we expect this game’s total frame count to end as an odd number.
Either Player to Win Successive Frames – Martin O’Donnell
Martin O’Donnell’s ranking and match sharpness would suggest he might be the best fit to win successive frames in this game. The first-to-four frame contest means winning successive frames is half the job; therefore, O’Donnell is our value bet on this one.
Prediction: Martin O’Donnell to win 4-1
SportsBoom concludes this preview by predicting Martin O’Donnell to dominate with a 4-1 victory over Akani Songsermsawad. The overall head-to-head record favors O’Donnell, but also his form from this season.
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Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry writes about football, darts, snooker, the NBA, the NFL and motorsport for multiple websites. He has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship after earning a degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism from UCFB in 2023.