UK Championship 2023 snooker LIVE – Mark Allen meets Ding Junhui in blockbuster opener, Mark Williams faces Fan Zhengyi

Fair to say, the cream rises to the top when you have only 32 players at the finals venue. In past years, the Barbican has felt a bit more like a supermarket with several tables and players wandering up and down the place. These days, we only have two main showpiece tables. Which adds to the prestige of the event.

The draw for the UK Championship was made on Thursday, and threw up a host of intriguing ties at the Barbican in York. Ronnie O’Sullivan will take on Anthony McGill in the opening round on Tuesday. Yuan Sijun held his nerve to secure victory over Ken Doherty in the final round of qualifying and he will face world champion Luca Brecel in the first round.

China’s world No. 17 completed wins over Daniel Wells (6-4) and Robbie Williams (6-3) to return to the final stages of an event that he has won in 2005, 2009 and 2019. Like all good champions, it is fair to say he enjoyed a spot of good luck with this huge fluke setting up his victory over Wells in qualifying.

The 47th edition of the UK Championship makes an enticing start at the York Barbican today with defending champion Mark Allen up against three-time winner Ding Junhui in a repeat of last year’s final won 10-7 by Allen from 6-1 behind. We also have three-time world champion Mark Williams, UK champion in 1999 and 2002, confronting former European Masters winner Fan Zhengyi on the other main show table. Boys on baize at back of 1pm.