UK Championships day seven predictions: In-form rivals can put on a show

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

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1, from 1pm Friday

Best bet

Over 2.5 centuries in Sam Craigie v Mark Allen 1pm Friday
1pt 5-2 Hills

Day seven preview

Mark Allen has been in fine form this season, winning the Northern Ireland Open and reaching the final of the British Open, but the Pistol faces a tough test in the quarter-final of the UK Championships against a player who is also in great nick, Sam Craigie.

The 28-year-old knocked out the top seed and defending champion Zhao Xintong in the last 32 before battling to a 6-4 victory over Ryan Day in the last 16.

He has now reached the quarter-finals of a Triple Crown event for the first time and that is in no small part thanks to his scoring.

Craigie has notched eight centuries in the four matches he has played in the tournament thus far and can play his part in what looks set to be a high-quality encounter between two form players.

Allen battled back from 2-0 down against Kyren Wilson in the last 16 to pull away from his opponent and win 6-3 after seeing off Jordan Brown in the last 32.

The Northern Irishman made two centuries in that win over Brown and had three breaks of 80 or more in his defeat of Wilson.

With both players in top form and scoring for fun, it may pay to side with three or more centuries in this entertaining encounter.

In the other quarter-final, Ronnie O'Sullivan will take on good friend Ding Junhui after the Chinese cueman dispatched of Jamie Clarke 6-1 in his last-16 encounter.

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