Sunday's Betway UK Championship final betting preview and free tip

Free snooker tips, best bets and predictions for the Betway UK Championship final in York.

Where to watch

BBC2 & Eurosport 1, 1pm & 7pm Sunday

Best bet

Stephen Maguire +2.5 frames v Ding Junhui
1pt 4-6 general

Final preview

There won't be a new winner of the Betway UK Championship this season as Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire are both former winners but the Scottish underdog can put up a strong show.

Ding is bidding to lift the trophy for the third time and while it's great to see one of the best potters in the business back on the attack again, the Chinese number one should expect a genuine test from Maguire, who stormed to a 6-0 semi-final victory over Mark Allen.

This final would have been billed as an absolute classic a decade ago, but such have been the pair's struggles that it almost feels out of place in the current climate.

But the fact that Ding and Maguire are back vying for big titles means that the Crucible betting may now be more open that it was.

The York finalists have been some of the game's finest scorers and it would not be a surprise to see ton-ups and 50-ups buyers out in force for the title match.

Maguire's scoring against his pal Allen was top notch - in the six frames contested he posted runs of 95, 129, 72, 48, 50 and 100. The Glaswegian is 7-4 to post a break of 50 or more in his opening frame against Ding which can be considered.

Ding, UK champion in 2005 and 2009, did everything in his 6-2 semi-final victory over Yan Bingtao bar post the match's highest break. He could easily return to three-figure breakmaking against Maguire, but for a punt it could be worthwhile backing the outsider to keep it close against the Chinese ace.

Maguire, the UK hero 15 years ago, is 4-6 with a handicap start of 2.5 frames and that may be the way to go, especially if he's feeling confident he can keep up the standard he produced in his last-four outing.

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