The UK Championships

Now well under way at The Barbican Centre is The UK Snooker Championships. It has been expanded this year with more players making the TV stage and more tables in action at the same time. This format has been much-criticized by quite a few players with the tables being criticized and lack of atmosphere. However, I must say it is great to see some new faces get a chance to strut their stuff on TV. Anyway we are now nearing the Quarter-Final stage and today in action are Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Graeme Dott and Peter Ebdon (four ex-world Champions) this afternoon.......Enjoy and discuss.

Graeme Dott beats Robert Milkens 6-0.

Ronnie O'Sullivan on the cusp of going 4-2 up against Ben Woollaston whilst Neil Robertson is in control leading Peter Ebdon 3-1.

Ronnie & those trainers lol. How serious is that ankle injury, I kept reading it was a broken ankle, but it can't be surely? Anyway, he should get past Wollaston

No I would say it is more likely to be a sprain or twist. Yes Ronnie should win through here.

Joel Walker leading Stuart Bingham 3-1 - that would be a bit of an upset.

Ronnie really toiling but still on the verge of going 5-2 up. Woollaston just spurning too many chances.

Much better from Ronnie in the final frame though and seals a 6-2 win. Just too many loose shots from Woollaston.

he's had his chances in most of these has Woollaston, but just can't build the breaks he needs and too many mistakes. O'Sullivan about to wrap this one up.

Robertson comfortably through beating Peter Ebdon 6-2. Joel Walker and Stuart Bingham locked at 5-5.

And Stuart Bingham clung on to win 6-5.

Poor Mark Allen's playing Rod Lawler tonight, the man who makes Peter Ebdon look like Tony Drago.

Aside from the first frame, Ding's been worse than dreadful tonight. He's pulled it back from 5-1 down to 5-4. Rod's leading Allen. Rod for the title!

Stephen Maguire through 6-2 against Mark Williams. No doubt he will fall apart in his next match.

Anyone see Ronnie's 147 last night? What a break. Love it the other table just basically stopped half way through his break to watch it.

The other table always stop if there's no partition.

John wrote:Anyone see Ronnie's 147 last night? What a break. Love it the other table just basically stopped half way through his break to watch it.

Ronnie now only 8 adrift in the all-time centuries list.
Incidentally Barry, any chance of getting things back to best of 17 ?

Having said that, it's been a godsend that Maguire-Fu was best of 11. Not sure if I could have endured another 6 frames.
Dreadful match.

The dreadful matches are sometimes the best to watch. Fu will take a lot from this week - he's been really below par but has managed to get to the quarters, beating an in-form sMurph on the way.

Ronnie far more relaxed and amiable these days - beat Anthony McGill 6-4 and offered high praise for the 23-year-old Scot. I cannot see Maguire beating Ronnie today as he is just too inconsistent.

Good thing he's not playing ROS then!! Bingham's capable of causing an upset and is by a country mile the best opponent ROS has played so far. However, he could easily wilt and get hammered 6-0. Maguire v Trump is easier to call. Remember when Stephen won this title 10 years ago by dismantling everyone in his path? Those days are long gone. Trump to win 6-3 or something.

My mistake of course Maguire plays Trump but still foresee a similar outcome for him. Ronnie should have too much for Bingham.

An impressive start from Stuart Bingham as he leads Ronnie 2-0 - he is freezing Ronnie out. Still early days yet though.

Bingham fluffs a chance to go 3-0 up and Ronnie pinches what could be a key frame to trail 2-1.

Bingham playing solid stuff and leads 3-1 at the interval.

And Stuart Bingham continues to score heavily and takes the fifth frame with a cracking 137 break to lead 4-1. Ronnie just not being allowed any real table time and he still has yet to settle.

Bingham missing good chances in the sixth frame and it could prove very costly.

Ronnie not firing at all but Bingham has gone right off the boil. Bingham leads 4-2.

Bingham leaking errors whilst Ronnie gets more table time and is beginning to settle a bit more. Looks set to pull it back to a 4-3 deficit.

Ronnie taking control as Bingham crumbles and Ronnie scores heavily to level things up at 4-4. Surely, this match is slipping away from Bingham.

What a mental capitulation from Bingham!! I know Christmas is only three weeks away but he is gifting frames like there is no tomorrow. Credit to Ronnie though he is keeping his head down and getting the job done. He seems in such a better place mentally these days. Ronnie on a break and looks set to lead 5-4.

Ronnie fails to capitalise but holds a healthy lead in the frame. You feel this is a must win frame for Bingham.

A scrappy frame and from nowhere Bingham pulls himself together and a break of 53 seals him a much-needed ninth frame and he edges back ahead 5-4.

Ronnie stays afloat with a great century break of 117 and levels it up at 5-5 and we have a final frame decider. Your money has to be on Ronnie now.

A tricky long red early on missed by Bingham gives Ronnie the chance to build a handy lead of 34 points. Bingham really up against it.

Superb shot on a tough red and Ronnie is home and hosed to seal a 6-5 win. Not a tremendous quality match but exciting.

Ronnie through to the UK Final where he will play either Judd Trump or Stephen Maguire.

Judd Trump ripping Maguire apart leading 4-0 at the interval.

That's the best 4 frames of snooker I've seen since Selby made 4 or 5 consecutive centuries against Hendry a few years ago.

Maguire finally gets his first frame on the board to trail 4-1 - still an impossible task you would think.

Maguire a little unlucky in frame six but Trump mopping up the frame in great style and leads 5-1 and surely the final slot is now sealed.

Maguire could've/should've had a couple of these frames but Judd took his chances. The main question is "Will this be over before I'm A Celebrity starts?"

The Special Juan wrote:Maguire could've/should've had a couple of these frames but Judd took his chances.  The main question is "Will this be over before I'm A Celebrity starts?"

Should I'm A Celebrity ever have been allowed to start mores the point?

Yeah!! I'm a fan, embarrassingly enough.

The Special Juan wrote:Yeah!!  I'm a fan, embarrassingly enough.

Oh dear.

Maguire looks good to delay the inevitable and win the seventh frame to trail 5-2 and Mrs. TSJ is spared having to watch I'm A Celebrity.

Nah I'm going to put the snooker on my laptop and watch it on the tellybox. Silly name, Judd

Maguire clinging on by his fingertips and wins a scrappy 8th frame to pull it back to 5-3 to Trump.

I said 6-3 earlier so......

I don't know what is more disappointing with Trump sealing a 6-3 win. Another Scot biting the dust or the thought that I'm A Celebrity gains another viewer?