The UK Championship is down to the quarter final stage with all four matches being played out across two sessions of action inside the Barbican Centre in York as we determine the semi-final line up of the opening Triple Crown event of the season.
We have four regular tournament winners left in the draw and they each face what can be considered to be an outsider, certainly in the major events, so it will be interesting to see how the pattern of play pans out.
Afternoon Session
Judd Trump vs Zhang Anda
The main table in the afternoon session will see a repeat of the English Open final of last season being played out when Judd Trump goes up against the last remaining Chinese player in the draw in the shape of Zhang Anda.
Trump won that final and he’ll go into this match as the favourite to come out on top but you could forgive Zhang for thinking that he is on a freeroll from here on in given that he found himself 5-1 down to Stuart Bingham in the previous round but managed to escape to win 6-5. Trump has had to battle in this tournament. He was 3-1 down to Neil Robertson in the opening round and outlasted John Higgins in a great match on Thursday and if that Trump turns up I expect him to win here but if Zhang can turn this into a scoring battle and get the balls open, he has made a 147 this week and would fancy his chances. I can’t avoid thinking that Trump will find a way here though but at the prices I’m happy to leave it.
Barry Hawkins vs Shaun Murphy
Over on table two while the main game is going on, two men who have competed in the biggest match in the sport will meet as Barry Hawkins looks to move to within two wins of a maiden Triple Crown title when he takes on a Shaun Murphy who has won all three of the iconic events in the past.
Both these men have played well in this tournament but at the same time both have had to come through deciding frames so they have had to do it the hard way. Murphy has actually had to come through deciders in both matches against top class talents in Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui and will be glad to be avoiding another Chinese opponent here. Hawkins has seen off Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round and came through a decider against Dave Gilbert last time out. Murphy is probably a rightful favourite here but I believe Hawkins is the better all around player and at the prices in what looks a 50:50 match I’m happy to take my chances with him.
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Evening Session
Michael Holt vs Kyren Wilson
The main table will be occupied by the world champion Kyren Wilson in the evening session. He will continue his quest to join a small band of players to win the world and UK titles in the same year when he takes on the surprise package of the event in Michael Holt.
Holt entered the tournament in the first round and six wins later he is still alive to tell the tale. He might wonder how he is because he was 5-2 down to Jak Jones in the previous round but won four frames on the spin to stop a repeat of the world final from happening. Holt has done brilliantly well to get this far but you sense his run ends here because Wilson looks in cracking form. He has disposed of two very competent opponents in Stephen Maguire and Chris Wakelin and only dropped two frames in the process. It would be a surprise were Holt to win more than that but it is all fully reflected in the prices. I don’t see an upset here so I’ll leave this one alone.
Jack Lisowski vs Mark Allen
The other quarter final sees two players who are no stranger to facing off meeting when Jack Lisowski looks to take care of a third top 16 player in as many matches with Mark Allen the latest elite man standing in his way.
After labouring past Jackson Page in the first round, when Mark Allen was 4-2 down to Wu Yize in the second round I was preparing to take him on in any situation were he to come through but to his credit he produced four of the better frames in recent times from him to go along with his suggestion that he found something in his game at the Champion of Champions. I still wouldn’t be surprised if Lisowski wins this match but my enthusiasm is tempered a little with that finish that Allen found last time out. I think Lisowski has a chance here because I expect Allen to try and slow play him and sometimes that hinders himself as much as his opponent but if Allen makes this scrappy I just don’t see the safety of Lisowski holding up. This should be a good watch but it is one I’ll watch without a bet on it.
Tips
Back B.Hawkins to beat S.Murphy for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
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