UK Championship Snooker 2023 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in UK Championship 27 November 2023

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Trump is eyeing his fourth trophy of the season (Credit: SPP Sport Press Photo /Alamy Live News)

Judd Trump begins his quest for a fourth title of the season when he faces Pang Junxu in the UK Championship first round on Monday.

The world number two headlines the action on day three at the York Barbican Centre, where he triumphed 12 years ago following a 10-8 victory over Mark Allen in the final.

Trump is fresh from winning three successive ranking events at the Wuhan Open, English Open and Northern Ireland Open last month, while he was runner-up to Allen at the Champion of Champions last time out.

The Ace has reached a further two UK Championship finals, losing out in a deciding frame to Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson in 2014 and 2020 respectively, and he will be targeting another deep run this week.

Pang provides the first obstacle he must overcome, with last season’s WST Classic finalist aiming to claim another notable scalp.

Trump’s good friend Jack Lisowski almost broke his ranking silverware duck here 12 months ago, losing 6-5 to eventual champion Allen in the semi-finals from 5-3 up.

Jackpot’s mission to go the extra couple of steps this time around commences with a potential banana skin in Jamie Jones, who reached the UK Championship quarter-finals seven years ago.

Elsewhere, Mark Selby is seeking a third UK title in York. The Jester, who lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2016, takes on Mark Joyce.

Although Selby, who was runner-up to Mark Williams at the British Open last month, does not boast the strongest record in this event in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals just once since his second triumph.

The other match of the day sees Barry Hawkins look to maintain his impressive start to the season.

The European Masters champion in August, the Hawk has also been a semi-finalist at the Northern Ireland Open and Champion of Champions.

Former Welsh Open runner-up Ben Woollaston is the first obstacle he must overcome this week.

Play gets under way at 1pm GMT on Monday with all matches contested over the best of 11 frames at the York Barbican Centre.

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