UK Championship day three predictions: Highfield can push Bingham all the way

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for day three of the UK Championship, which takes place in York on Monday.

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1, from 1pm Monday

Best bets

Zhou Yuelong to beat Yan Bingtao 1pm
1pt 11-8 general

Liam Highfield +2.5 frames v Stuart Bingham 7pm
1pt 7-10 BoyleSports

Day three preview

There is plenty to look forward to on day three at the UK Championship and eyes will be drawn to the first-round clash between former winners Ronnie O’Sullivan and Matthew Stevens.

While O’Sullivan appears to only get stronger, Stevens has been on a rapid decline, but the Welshman has been playing some good stuff recently and won't be completely outclassed.

However, the all-Chinese affair between Yan Bingtao and Zhou Yuelong makes more punting appeal and it could be worth siding with the outsider.

Bingtao is a serious talent and could contend for World Championship glory later in the season but Yuelong has started the campaign strongly and may be in better nick right now.

Not only has Yuelong come through two qualifiers against decent opponents in Michael White and Jak Jones, but he also finished runner-up at the Northern Ireland Open last month.

Yuelong should be happy with where his game is right now and he could overcome his compatriot, just as he did in this event six years ago.

Mark Williams should have too much for fellow Welshman Jamie Clarke, but Liam Highfield can give Stuart Bingham a scare.

Bingham has had a poor start to the season - he was beaten 4-0 by David Lilley in Northern Ireland when last seen - and Highfield should be much the sharper after winning two qualifiers.

The latest 6-5 win over the experienced Ali Carter reads particularly well and a reproduction of that effort would see him trouble Bingham, making him a decent bet with a 2.5-frame headstart.

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