Slick Scot Graeme Dott could upset Barry Hawkins

Eurosport 2, 7.30am & 12.30pm Thursday

Graeme Dott defied the odds to defeat a rejuvenated Neil Robertson in the second round of the China Championship and the slick Scot could cause another upset in his last-16 showdown with Barry Hawkins.

Dott outscored the Australian world number ten in a 5-2 victory on Wednesday, mustering breaks of 126, 75 and 68, and a repeat should be enough to silence the Hawk, who has needed to dig deep to see off Ashley Carty (5-3) and Noppon Saengkham (5-4).

Hawkins found himself 4-2 down to Saengkham and a similarly slow start against the experienced Dott should see him punished. He has managed just two breaks over 50 in recording his narrow successes and hasn't scored heavily enough to be backed at skinny prices.

Bookmakers are struggling to separate Mark King and 18-year-old home hope Yuan Sijun, who showed maturity beyond his years when edging out classy compatriot Ding Junhui in a decider on Wednesday.

The promising youngster outscored Ding, recording the four highest breaks of the match, but will face a completely different test against the gritty King, who may looking to turn frames into tactical battles.

King has already overcome two fluent scorers in Sam Craigie and Mark Allen in Guanghzou this week and the former ranking-event winner may prove too streetwise for Sijun.

Recommendations
G Dott
1pt 2-1 bet365
M King
1pt 10-11 bet365

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