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UK Championships Semi Final
Friday: Ding Junhui v Stephen Maguire
Saturday: Ronnie O’Sullivan v John Higgins

The Pukka Pies UK Championship enters into the semi final stage on Friday and Saturday. Friday sees Ding Junhui v Stephen Maguire taking to the table, and over two sessions will play to a conclusion. The two semi finals are separated over two days, allowing for a little rest for the players. Ding Junhui and Stephen Magquire came through the top half of the Championship draw, and concluded their matches earlier than the participants in the other semi final. So they are up in the first semi final on Friday.

It is the bottom half of the draw which has produced the most excitement, and as expected, the two favourites to reach the semi final, have. On Saturday, the Sheffield Arena will see Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. John Higgins for a place in Sunday’s final. Both of the combatants cruised with relative ease in their semi finals, with Higgins winning 9-2 over Liang Wenbo, and O’Sullivan beating Mark Selby 9-3. Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan was not overly impressed with his performance, and for a man on top of his sport, he is his own worst critic, demanding perfection when he reaches the green baize. It is true though, that his quarter final match could have been a lot closer, but Mark Selby, a young pretender to O’Sullivan’s crowd, was guilty of unexpectedly missing some chances.

John Higgins, the current World Champion, did not have any problems, looking smooth and slick as he blitzed his way past Liang Wenbo. But still, even the Scot insisted that he will need to be better to get the better of Ronnie O’Sullivan on Saturday. In Friday’s other semi final, Stephen Maguire will start as favourite against China’s Ding Junhui, as he is looking in great form. Magquire saw off the challenge of qualifier Peter Lines in the quarter finals, 9 frames to 5, while his opponent, Ding Junhui staged something of a resilient comeback to snatch victory from Alistair Carter. There was doubts over how well Ding would perform, as he only jetted into the UK from his home nation on the eve of the tournament. But he has shown glimpses of producing the level of game which saw him first burst onto the scene.

Stephen Maguire to win: 10/11 at SportingBet
Ding Junhui to win: 10/11 at SkyBet

These genuinely have the potential of being two classic Pukka Pies UK Championship semi finals, with the spotlight for snooker fans, being firmly on the Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. John Higgins clash on Friday. Sessions for both days begin at 1pm and 7pm.

Pukka Pies UK Championship Outright
Ronnie O’Sullivan – 5/4 at ExtraBet
John Higgins – 7/2 at Totesport
Stephen Maguire – 9/2 at Bet365
Ding Junhui – 5/1 at Totesport