Ronnie O'Sullivan staged an impressive comeback after initially trailing 2-0 against Anthony McGill, securing a 6-2 victory to progress into the last 16 of the UK Championship. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first UK crown, 'The Rocket' faced a slow start at York's iconic Barbican Centre. But he rebounded strongly, clinching six consecutive frames.
He now faces Robert Milkins and the bookies are expecting an easy night for O’Sullivan.
- What? Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Robert Milkins, UK Snooker Championship Last 16
- Where? Barbican Centre, York, England
- When? Thursday, November 30
Below, you can see the odds for this highly anticipated match from three of the best sports betting sites.
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan continued his quest for an unprecedented eighth snooker UK Championship title, securing a 6-2 victory over Anthony McGill at the Barbican Centre in York. Marking the thirtieth anniversary of his initial UK crown, 'The Rocket' didn't showcase his usual fluent performance but managed to outperform the Scotsman, advancing into the last 16.
If O'Sullivan manages to clinch the championship, he would etch another chapter in history by becoming both the oldest and youngest UK champion. His earlier triumph in the Triple Crown event in 1993 at the age of 17 remains a remarkable achievement.
McGill started the match impressively with a break of 116, showcasing skillful play with a clever plant on two reds and a double into the middle pocket. In the second frame, O'Sullivan inadvertently potted the white, presenting McGill with an early opportunity. Despite a missed long red by the Scotsman, O'Sullivan's positional error on 49 allowed McGill to seize the advantage and go 2-0 ahead.
In the third frame, O'Sullivan missed a blue to the middle on 14. This offered McGill a chance to extend his lead. However, a reprieve for O'Sullivan enabled him to reduce the deficit. Capitalizing on this momentum, O'Sullivan crafted a second successive break of 89, entering the mid-session interval on an even keel at 2-2, taking advantage of McGill's missed yellow.
As McGill encountered difficulties, O'Sullivan capitalized on the momentum. A composed 66 in the fifth frame propelled O'Sullivan into the lead for the first time in the match, and he maintained his advantage. Winning a scrappy sixth frame, O'Sullivan surged to a 4-2 lead before sealing the victory with breaks of 61 and 92, securing an impressive run of six consecutive snooker frames.
Robert Milkins
In the last 16, Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to face another English competitor, Robert Milkins, who orchestrated a remarkable comeback from a 5-3 deficit to clinch a thrilling 6-5 victory against Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. The Milkins-Un-Nooh clash, concluding the first-round matches, stood out as arguably the most captivating.
Un-Nooh kicked off with an explosive performance, notching breaks of 93, 127, and 85 to establish a commanding 3-1 lead. However, Milkins, boasting previous successes at the Gibraltar Open and Welsh Open in the past two years, mounted a resilient resurgence. Two centuries and a run of 99 allowed Milkins to level the contest. He then secured nervy victories in the 10th and 11th frames, ultimately securing the thrilling 6-5 triumph.
Prediction
Ronnie O'Sullivan to win 6-2 again.
Read our Bovada sportsbook review to determine if it's the best site for your snooker bets.
Spread Betting
O'Sullivan is the heavy favorite for this match. A spread bet will provide more value.
In contrast to the straightforward money line, where you simply bet on a team or competitor to win or lose, the point spread introduces a dynamic by designating one team or competitor as the favorite and another as the underdog. A predetermined line is established, subtracting points from the favorite's total to create a level playing field. This adjustment aims to equalize the chances for both teams, adding a layer of complexity to sports betting.
Odds are subject to change.
The UK Championship
The UK Championship stands as a prominent fixture in professional snooker. Running from November 25 to December 3, 2023, the event captivates audiences at the York Barbican in York, England. This edition represents the 47th installment of the UK Championship, which inaugurated in 1977.
Under the management of the World Snooker Tour and sponsorship from the online casino MrQ, the tournament garners extensive coverage through domestic broadcasts on the BBC and Eurosport. A substantial prize awaits the victor, with £250,000 up for grabs from the overall prize fund of £1,205,000.
The defending champion is Mark Allen. He triumphed over Ding Junhui with a 10–7 score in the 2022 final, faced a formidable challenge in the 2023 event. Despite his efforts to defend the title, Allen fell short in the last 32, losing 5–6 to Ding Junhui. This sets the stage for new contenders to emerge and contend for snooker supremacy in this prestigious championship.
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