UK Championship day two predictions: Ding can benefit from qualifying outings

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

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport 1, from 1pm Sunday

Best bets

Ding Junhui to beat Barry Hawkins 7pm
2pts 5-6 Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

Lyu Haotian to beat Luca Brecel 1pm
1pt 13-8 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Day two preview

There are some tasty first-round tussles taking place on day two of the UK Championship and none more intriguing than Barry Hawkins’ clash with Ding Junhui.

World number ten Hawkins was a semi-finalist at the York Barbican last season, but he could struggle to repeat that feat this year as Ding is a draw thwarted with danger.

There is no doubting that Ding is the qualifier all seeds would have wanted to avoid and the Chinese talent can show just why.

Ding may not be the force he once was but there are still the occasional flashes of his breakbuilding brilliance and he should be sharp following a pair of qualifying victories.

The 35-year-old recorded two excellent wins against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Robert Milkins and those efforts came on the back of a 4-0 drubbing of Ian Burns in his English Open qualifier, which featured runs of 138, 134 and 106.

This is one of the few tournaments the three-time UK champion gets himself up for - Ding was considered a surprise winner in 2019 - and his scoring power makes him a worthy favourite.

Neil Robertson should take care of good friend Joe Perry and John Higgins looks too strong for Tom Ford, but Luca Brecel could be a vulnerable favourite against Lyu Haotian.

Brecel finished runner-up in York last year but the Belgian has been hit-and-miss ever since and was thrashed 4-0 by Lyu at the Northern Ireland Open last month.

The Chinese youngster made plenty of big breaks in overcoming Stuart Carrington and Andy Hicks in qualifying and has had a far more convincing start to the season than Brecel.

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