UK Championship Snooker last 16: Murphy meets Fu again

Lee Gormley | December 1, 2015

UK Championship last 16 commences

• UK Championship
• Wednesday, December 2nd
• First break-off: 13:00 GMT
• Barbican Centre, York
• Live on BBC Two

Murphy meets Fu for an enthralling evening session

In what is set to be an exciting evening session on Wednesday at the Barbican Centre, Shaun Murphy will collide with Chinese cueist Marco Fu in a repeat of their UK Championship encounter last year at the same final 16 stage.

‘The Magician’ holds a long-standing baize rivalry with Fu, having met 19 times since 2001, with their previous three matches being last 16 meetings in the UK, Champion of Champions and the World Championship. The Asian potter edged a final frame shootout in their York clash last in 2014, and is 8/1 to prevail 6-5 once again, while Murphy is 5/1 to repeat his 6-4 Masters quarter-final victory scoreline this time around.

On the other table, talented Belgian prospect Luca Brecel is aiming to make an impact and reach the quarter-finals for a second time in his short but impressive career. The 20-year-old is 7/5 in the handicap market to beat Matthew Selt by two or more frames, while his Romford-born opponent is 13/2 to secure a deciding frame coup in a 6-5 result.

Ebdon hoping to avoid fall from Grace

With John Higgins seemingly enjoying a career resurgence, another rejuvenated potter comes in the form of 2006 UK victor Peter Ebdon, as the 46-year-old looks to topple Leeds break-builder David Grace in another of the opening last 16 encounters.