UK Championship day eight predictions: Ding to continue strong form

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for day eight of the UK Championship in York on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1, from 1pm Saturday

Best bet

Ding Junhui -2.5 frames on handicap
1pt 5-4 Hills

Day eight preview

Ding Junhui continued his love affair with the UK Championship as he breezed past a below-par Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-0 in their quarter-final in York yesterday.

It was the first time the Rocket had been whitewashed at a Triple Crown event and it means that Ding has taken a major step closer to his fourth title in this tournament.

He faces Tom Ford in the semi-finals and is fancied for a comfortable success.

Ford beat Joe Perry 6-4 in the last eight but Ding in his current form is a considerable step up.

The Chinese player has won their last five meetings by an aggregate frame score of 19-6.

Ding has also dropped just one frame in his last two matches and looks in irresistible touch, so take him to overcome a 2.5-frame deficit on the handicap.

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