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UK Championship Snooker 2021 | Day Six Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in UK Championship

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Mark Selby stunned by heroic Hossein Vafaei at the UK Championship

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Zhao Xintong stuns John Higgins at the UK Championship as big names continue to fall

O’Sullivan faces old rival King on Monday (Photo by Nigel French/PA Images)

Ronnie O’Sullivan renews his rivalry with Mark King when they face off in the UK Championship third round on Monday.

The most successful player in the history of snooker’s second-most prestigious ranking tournament, the Rocket is seeking an eighth title at the York Barbican Centre.

Next up in his latest quest is old rival King, with whom he came through the ranks in Essex, while they turned professional within a year of one another.

They famously met at this stage of the 2005 UK Championship with King prevailing 9-8 in an epic showdown; most of which saw O’Sullivan sat with a wet towel draped over his head.

Although, the Rocket returned the favour with a thumping 9-1 victory two years later on his way to claiming a fourth title.

However, it is the 2016 Northern Ireland Open champion who holds the edge in the head-to-head record, having won five of their nine previous meetings.

Elsewhere, three-time champion John Higgins faces a tricky test in Zhao Xintong, who has won their last two showdowns and prevailed 6-5 in a thrilling contest with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh on Sunday.

World number five Kyren Wilson takes on Chinese teenager Wu Yize, who is making his first appearance in the last 32 of a ranking event since joining the tour earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Barry Hawkins and Stuart Bingham face Cao Yupeng and Noppon Saengkham respectively – both of whom are targeting a maiden appearance in the last 16 of this tournament – as Jack Lisowski locks horns with former World champion Graeme Dott.

Dominic Dale is looking to reach the UK Championship last 16 for the first time since 2001; the Spaceman faces fellow veteran Andy Hicks, who last appeared at this stage in 2004 but has certainly earned the right following narrow 6-5 wins over Liang Wenbo and Michael Holt.

The other match sees Ben Woollaston, who beat Masters champion Yan Bingtao in the previous round, aim for a first appearance in the last 16 when he takes on Liam Highfield.

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

WATCH UK CHAMPIONSHIP SNOOKER STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)

UK Championship Snooker 2021 Day Six Schedule

Monday November 29

Last 32

1pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark King
Barry Hawkins v Cao Yupeng
Dominic Dale v Andy Hicks
John Higgins v Zhao Xintong

7pm
Kyren Wilson v Wu Yize
Ben Woollaston v Liam Highfield
Stuart Bingham v Noppon Saengkham
Jack Lisowski v Graeme Dott