Barry Hawkins can post emphatic win against inexperienced Jamie Clarke

Day three
First-round matches start 9.30am Thursday

The opening round of the Betway UK Championship consists largely of mismatches, making it difficult for punters to seek out value.

There have been 6-0 wins by Stuart Bingham, Marco Fu, Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson in York already this week highlighting the non-competitive nature of some of the opening ties, and another one-sided affair could be in store when Barry Hawkins meets Jamie Clarke.

The Welshman is making his UK Championship debut and first-round defeats in his nine events this season show the size of the task he is faced with.

Hawkins, one of the finest match players on tour, hasn’t enjoyed much luck in this event but he beat Kurt Dunham 6-1 in the first round last year and whitewashed David John in his 2016 curtain-raiser.

The Hawk can inflict another heavy defeat on his inexperienced Welsh challenger and he is worth backing to post either a 6-0 or 6-1 victory.

Mark King claimed the scalps of Luca Brecel and John Higgins on his way to the quarter-finals last season and should prove too streetwise for Elliot Slessor in his opener.

King has found a new level of consistency since ending a 25-year wait for a ranking title with his success in the Northern Ireland Open two years ago and proved his wellbeing with a run to the semi-finals of the European Masters last month.

Slessor is capable on his day but has to prove his liking for this best-of-11 format. He has been a first-round casualty on all four of his visits to the Barbican Centre, and his two meetings with King have ended in 4-2 defeats.

Recommendations
B Hawkins -4.5 frames
2pts 11-8 Sky Bet
M King
2pts 4-7 general

If you are concerned about your gambling and are worried you may have a problem, click here to find advice on how you can receive help

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport