Tian Pengfei's heavy scoring could help him to oust O'Donnell

Third round
Eurosport 1 & BBC2, 1pm & 7pm Monday

Martin O'Donnell goes from strength to strength and the experience he is gleaning from being competitive in most matches on the main tour is going to serve him well in his career.

The MOD was in century break-making form in his 6-2 Betway UK Championship second-round triumph over Chinese novice Chen Feilong, but a clash against Tian Pengfei could be tougher for the Londoner.

Tian has been a genuine slow-burner, taking years to get to the stage where he can be competitive in a major tourna­ment such as this one in York.

But he was also a huge talent in his early years and he'll probably be the first to admit that some of the choices he made in his formative campaigns could have been better.

O'Donnell's run of 139 against Chen put him near the top of the high-break chart, but Tian's breaks of 129, 103 and 101 show what a heavy scorer he can be when he hits form and he can be chanced to make his class tell in round three at the Barbican Centre.

Ronnie O'Sullivan had to fight back from 4-1 down to pip Ken Doherty 6-5 and and oddsmakers expect the top seed to dismiss Zhou Yuelong with less fuss.

Recommendation
Tian Pengfei
1pt 10-11 bet365

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