2024 UK Snooker Championship: Round two preview and full match schedule


As well as remaining on course to claim one of professional snooker’s top accolades, prize money increments really start to ramp up now, with several players in line for Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and Masters qualification.
- Barry Hawkins v David Gilbert - Wednesday afternoon
Two qualifiers, two ranking event champions, and two players who still have hopes of getting into the top 16 following this event and therefore qualifying for the invitational Masters in January.
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Hawkins played superbly from 4-2 down to eliminate defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 in round one, while Gilbert broke free from 4-4 to score the same winning result over the very in-form Xiao Guodong.
Both players have had solid seasons and are inside the top 32 of the one-year list (Gilbert 17th, Hawkins 22nd), but they could do real damage here as they both target a maiden Triple Crown event title.
- Ding Junhui (8) v Shaun Murphy (9) - Wednesday afternoon
Seed numbers eight and nine meet for a place in the quarter-finals having both come through deciding frame finishes in their opening round assignments.
Three-time UK Champion Ding should be feeling good on the baize having won the last ranking event on the circuit; ending a near five-year wait for such a title at the International Championship.
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2008 UK Champion Murphy has been impressive at times this season, but doesn't have a trophy to show for his efforts, so far.
Murphy has the better head-to-head record out of the two, although Ding won their last encounter at the World Open earlier this year. That was their first meeting since 2018.
- Jack Lisowski v Ali Carter (12) - Wednesday evening
Lisowski produced one of his best performances on TV during his first round victory over Mark Selby where he recovered from 3-0 down.
A semi-finalist at the Barbican two years ago, qualifier Lisowski's season has not properly ignited, but he knows a deep run here can get him back on track. A trip to the final could push him back into the top 16 and secure a Masters ticket.
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Since winning the sixth ranking event title of his career at the Championship League at the start of the term, Carter's season has stalled somewhat, although a round one win over the decorated Ryan Day has put him into the last 16 of the UK Championship for the first time since 2012.
If you include all professional formats, Carter and Lisowski are tied 5-5 in previous meetings.
- Wu Yize v Mark Allen (4) - Wednesday evening
Allen was very downbeat about his 6-4 first round win over Jackson Page, but the 2022 UK Champion is still 'in it to win it'.
Allen began the season as the world number one, but is now third in the standings, and defending the £250,000 he won here 24 months ago from his rankings total.
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Wu enjoyed a real breakthrough moment a few months ago after reaching his maiden ranking event final at the English Open.
The 21-year-old from China got the better of fellow countryman and number 13 seed Si Jiahui in round one, here.
These two have only played each other once before on the World Snooker Tour; last year at the English Open when Allen emerged a 4-1 victor.
- Judd Trump (3) v John Higgins (14) - Thursday afternoon
One of snooker's best rivalries adds another chapter to its story, as Trump and Higgins continue their pursuits to end 13 and 14-year respective waits for another UK Championship title.
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Both career Triple Crown winners advanced to the last 16 in contrasting fashions.
World number one Trump endured a slog early on in his round one tie with Neil Robertson, recovering from 3-1 down by claiming five successive frames for a 6-3 win, while Higgins cruised past He Guoqiang, 6-0.
Higgins inflicted some painful defeats to Trump early on in their ongoing saga, but Trump is definitely on top these days having won their last 10 meetings in ranking event competition.
- Zhang Anda (11) v Stuart Bingham - Thursday afternoon
The final two players to record round one victories when they began their campaigns on Tuesday night, both Zhang and Bingham recovered from deficits to stay on course in York.
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Zhang trailed 2-0 to fellow Chinese cueist Lei Peifan before depositing six of the next seven frames for a 6-3 success - a spell which saw the number 11 seed strike his third maximum 147 break in professional competition.
Former World and Masters champion Bingham’s comeback was the most impressive of the round. From looking down and out at 5-2 behind to Mark Williams, Bingham strung together a four-frame winning streak to stun his opponent and move a step closer to completing a career Triple Crown.
- Jak Jones v Michael Holt - Thursday evening
A huge opportunity for these two qualifiers with a quarter-final place at stake.
Crucible finalist Jones - the world number 17 - needs to win this match to provisionally jump into the elite 16 and put himself in pole position for a maiden invite to the upcoming Masters in January.
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The Welshman battled back from 5-3 down to Luca Brecel in round one, and a deficit in the deciding frame. This run to the round of 16 already represents Jones’ best result at a UK Championship.
Holt has already won five matches to get to this stage, having survived from the first round of qualifying.
The former Snooker Shoot Out winner is back in the big time after spending two seasons in the amateur ranks; this time last year he was competing on the Q Tour circuit, which was his route back to the sport’s top tier.
Victory for 46-year-old Holt would put him into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship for the second time in his career - 25 years on from his first outing in 1999.
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These two have played each other twice in professional play (1-1); they were best of seven matches in 2013 and 2019.
- Chris Wakelin (15) v Kyren Wilson (2) - Thursday evening
Both Wakelin and Wilson are enjoying fantastic seasons.
World Champion Wilson - who has already secured two ranking event titles this term - whitewashed a totally out-of-sorts Stephen Maguire 6-0 in the opening round whilst nursing a migraine.
His first match as a top 16 player, recent International Championship runner-up Chris Wakelin recovered from 3-1 down to defeat Matthew Selt 6-4 in round one.
The victory ensured that he would receive ranking points - perhaps crucial in his bid to qualify for a Masters debut.
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Seeding positions in brackets above next to the respective players
For full details on the 2024 UK Championship, including the draw, results, prize money breakdown, format and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here.
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