UK Championship Snooker 2025 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Zhao Xintong launches his quest for a second UK Championship title, while Mark Allen and Ding Junhui are also in action on Monday in York.

Three more former UK champions take centre stage at the York Barbican Centre, where four more players will book their place in the second round.

Zhao made his big breakthrough in the season’s first Triple Crown event four years ago, soaring to the title with victory over Luca Brecel in the final.

The Cyclone, following his suspension, then had to win four matches to qualify for last season’s event, before narrowly losing to Shaun Murphy in the opening round.

However, his historic Crucible triumph a few months later means he returns to York as a seed this year, and is fresh from landing further silverware at the lucrative Riyadh Season Snooker Championship last time out.

Zhao’s first opponent will be compatriot Long Zehuang, who beat Aaron Hill and Louis Heathcote – the latter from 5-3 down – to qualify.

Another all-Chinese battle pits three-time champion Ding against Xu Si, who is making his first appearance in the last 32 of any tournament this season.

Ding lifted this trophy in 2005, 2009 and 2019, as well as reaching the final in 2022 and 2023, while his opponent is bidding to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Allen is the other former winner in action on day three, having beaten Ding from 6-1 down in the 2022 showpiece.

The Pistol is also a two-time beaten finalist, and narrowly missed out on another championship match last year after a 6-5 defeat by Barry Hawkins in the semi-finals.

Allen takes on comeback king Scott Donaldson, who overturned 4-1 and 5-0 deficits to respectively defeat Ross Muir and Stuart Bingham during qualifying.

The day’s other match pits Gary Wilson, aiming for his first match win in the UK Championship since 2020, against Zhang Anda.

Zhang, who recently dropped out of the world’s top 16, has reached back-to-back quarter-finals in York, while making a 147 break against Lei Peifan 12 months ago.

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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UK Championship 2025 Day Three Schedule

Monday December 1

Round One

1pm
Ding Junhui v Xu Si
Zhao Xintong v Long Zehuang

7pm
Gary Wilson v Zhang Anda
Mark Allen v Scott Donaldson