UK Championship Snooker day 2: Six tasty first round tips

Wasley way too much for De Lu

Talented Gloucester cueist Michael Wasley has faced his Chinese opposition before, having comfortably overcome Yu De Lu 5-2 at the 2012 Australian Open, and the promising 25-year-old has all the potting potential to go far in this year’s York tournament.

Wasley first showcased his abilities on the big stage in 2014, when he unexpectedly stormed to the world championship last 16, his best ranking finish to date, and he should have too much for his 28-year-old Asian foe, with tasty odds of 11/8 available for a first round victory here.

Former champion Trump to edge out Miah

Brilliant Bristol break-builder Trump rallied to the UK final last year, only to be outpotted by a ruthless Ronnie O’Sullivan, despite a gallant comeback attempt in the later stages of their thrilling final showdown.

Trump has surprisingly lost his only ever meeting with Hammad Miah recently this year in a decider, but the 9/2 tournament favourite will possess more of a drive on this relished grander stage, where he triumphed back in 2011, and he is 14/1 to be on the successful end of a final frame shootout this time round.

Captain Carter can be Alfie’s Burden

Three-time ranking event winner Carter enters the Barbican Centre on day two against a familiar opponent in Alfie Burden, having clashed with the 38-year-old Paddington potter on five previous occasions, but the Captain managed to prevail in their last two meetings with 5-2 and 4-2 victories in China and England respectively.

The two-time Crucible finalist has made it as far as the semi-final stage in York before and should be able to enjoy another successful run this year, having earned a Paul Hunter Classic coup in recent months, and he is 15/4 to triumph while dropping just two frames again, with a 6-2 result, in his latest Burden battle.

Menacing Mehta to battle past Baird

India’s first ever ranking finalist Aditya Mehta possesses all the potting attributes to cause a stir at this year’s UK event, and he comes up against an opponent who he has got the better of in their two ever match-ups, once last year in Portugal and the other on Chinese soil.

The impressive Indian cueist is therefore an eye-catching 7/5 in the handicap market to secure a third successive win over Sam Baird by a two-frame margin or more, having done so in their previous two meetings.

Chenwei could endure Ebdon punishment

Peter Ebdon is well-regarded for his astute ability of grinding out victories, with many of the world’s best players suffering at the hands of this snooker torturer, and Chinese cueist Lu Chenwei could be a new victim.

The 2001 Crucible champion has also tasted success at the UK back in 2006, and he is 15/4 to hold a 4-0 lead after the first four frames played against his more youthful opponent.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Michael Wasley to simply overcome Chinese opponent Yu De Lu at 11/8 in their first-round match-up in York.