Saturday's Betway UK Championship first semi-final betting preview, free tip, TV

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

When to watch

BBC2, BBC red button, Eurosport 1, 1pm Saturday

Best bet

Ding Junhui highest break v Yan Bingtao
1pt 4-7 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Semi-final preview

There's a fascinating all-Chinese last-four clash in the Betway UK Championship with experienced Ding Junhui taking on teenager Yan Bingtao in York.

Ding, the finest player China has produced, has been installed favourite to reach the final and bid to add to UK titles won in 2005 and 2009. But Yan has served notice in recent seasons that he may be the one to relieve Ding of his national supremacy.

Yan won his first main-tour title at the Riga Masters earlier this season. A fallow period ensued, but the 19-year-old has returned to somewhere near his best with a bang at the Barbican Centre and victories over Jack Lisowski, Neil Robertson and John Higgins entitle him to huge respect.

But Yan is not the only one who has returned to form in Yorkshire. New dad Ding was 50-1 for the title after a slow start to the season, but the potting machine is switched on again and that could spell trouble for Yan.

Wuxi City ace Ding is virtually revered as a god in Chinese snooker and Liang Wenbo's gallant title tilt melted against the 16th seed in the quarter-finals. The same could happen to Yan, but he looks a shade more stubborn than Liang, which may help his cause.

Yan's tactical game held up well against Higgins, but his breakbuilding deserted him. For that reason, a punt on Ding to post the semi-final's highest break could be the way to go.

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