Mark Selby dominated Mark Joyce with a 6-0 win at the UK Championship opening round in York, setting up a last 16 clash with his friend and apartment mate for the week, Barry Hawkins. Hawkins battled back from 3-1 down to beat Ben Woollaston 6-4 earlier in the day. The stage is set for an exciting face-off between Selby and Hawkins in the next round.
- What? Mark Selby vs Barry Hawkins UK Snooker Championship Last 16
- Where? Barbican Centre, York.
- When? Wednesday, November 29
Mark Selby
Mark Selby, a two-time winner, demonstrated clinical precision as he swept aside Mark Joyce with a commanding 6-0 victory in the UK Championship's second round in York. The four-time world champion asserted dominance with breaks of 82, 61, 75, and 80, showcasing a ruthless performance. Selby's near-flawless execution left Joyce with a mere 30 points across the final five frames, underscoring the one-sided nature of the match.
Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins staged a comeback from a 3-1 deficit to secure a 6-4 victory against fellow Englishman Ben Woollaston.
Despite World number 51 Woollaston starting strong with a century, Hawkins turned the tide. At a crucial moment, a long-missed red at 4-4, with Woollaston on a run of 51, allowed Hawkins to snatch the frame with a break of 70. He sealed the win with a decisive break of 69.
However, Hawkins faces a formidable challenge in the upcoming match against Selby. The two-time UK champion, who claimed his most recent crown in 2016, breezed through his match against Joyce, indicating a tough test for Hawkins that demands significant improvement.
Betting Picks
The four-time World Champion, Mark Selby, has demonstrated solid form this season, though he has not clinched any trophies yet. His notable performances include finishing as the runner-up to Mark Williams at the British Open and reaching the semi-finals in both the Shanghai Masters and the European Masters. Selby's consistent and competitive displays indicate that he remains a force to be reckoned with in the snooker circuit.
I am predicting a comfortable 6-3 victory for Mark Selby.
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Betting On Snooker
Snooker, a year-round sport, has evolved into a global phenomenon, with China emerging as a powerhouse, ushering in a new generation of players to challenge the traditional dominance of English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish professionals.
In the realm of snooker betting, the options are diverse. Beyond predicting the tournament winner, you can explore outright bets such as "to reach the final" or predicting the "highest break" in a competition. Match betting, a widely favored option, allows you to back a snooker player to win a specific match, adding an extra layer of excitement to the game.
Other markets include:
- Handicap betting
- Over/under markets
- Correct score bets
Check out our Online Betting Guides for much more information about every aspect of betting.
The UK Championship
The 2023 UK Championship, officially known as the 2023 MrQ UK Championship, is a prominent fixture in professional snooker. The tournament spans from November 25 to December 3, 2023, captivating audiences at the York Barbican in York, England. As the eighth ranking event and the first Triple Crown event of the 2023–24 snooker season, this marks the 47th edition of the UK Championship, which inaugurated in 1977.
Managed by the World Snooker Tour and sponsored by the online casino MrQ, the event enjoys widespread coverage through domestic broadcasts on the BBC and Eurosport. A huge prize awaits the victor, with a £250,000 reward from the overall prize fund of £1,205,000.
The defending champion, Mark Allen, who secured victory over Ding Junhui with a 10–7 score in the 2022 final, faced a formidable challenge in the 2023 event. Despite his title defense efforts, Allen fell short in the last 32, losing 5–6 to Ding Junhui. The stage is set for new contenders to emerge and vie for snooker supremacy in this prestigious championship.
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