Jak Jones V Fan Zhengyi 13:00
The players have met on two occasions with both meetings going to a deciding frame, I can see today's match going in a similar direction with very little to separate the pair.
Both players came through their round 3 matches in convincing fashion, Jones won 6-2 against Ian Burns while Zhengyi defeated Florian Nussle by the same score.
On paper, this will be decided by a toss of a coin with the prospect of a very close, interesting match but I feel the Welshman's experience over the last 12 months (where he reached a World Championship final) will get him over the line.
Prediction: 6-5 Jak Jones
Elliot Slessor V Stephen Maguire 13:00
The players have only met once with Maguire coming out on top 4-1 over 10 years ago (2014 Welsh Open).
Since then, Slessor has developed into a more than capable top 32 player, making a semi-final in this year's Northern Ireland Open a particular highlight.
Maguire has continued to fluctuate up and down the World rankings and has yet to make a deep run in a tournament as of yet this season. He can be quite unpredictable at times and banking on what form the Scotsman will produce is like picking the lotto numbers.
For that reason, I am siding with Slessor to come through.
Prediction: 6-4 Slessor
Stuart Bingham V Jimmy Robertson 13:00
Bingham has a commanding 4-1 lead over Robertson in head to head's between the pair over the years with Robertson's victory coming over 10 years ago against Ball-run.
Former 3-time UK Championship semi-finalist Bingham fell at this stage in last years qualifying so will be determined not to let that happen again.
But Bingham's performance on Monday night defeating Oliver Sykes 6-3 to reach this round was very encouraging, his all-round game looks in good shape and he was clinical in coming through against his young opponent.
Despite both players having relatively quiet season's to date, Robertson's run to the quarter-final of the Saudia Arabia Masters is the stand-out form between the pair this year.
He also came through a late night deciding frame victory over Daniel Wells on Monday that will give him a huge boost of confidence ahead of today's match.
But it's hard to look past the experienced Bingham, he seems to produce his best at triple crown events and I can see him coming through a closely fought contest today.
Prediction: 6-4 Bingham
Jackson Page V Hossein Vafaei 13:00
Two of the most eye-catching, attractive players to watch on tour battle it out this afternoon with a place at the Barbican at stake.
Semi-finalist in this event last year, Vafaei will no doubt fancy his chances of repeating the impressive run but will have to come through the in-form Welshman who is having his best season since his arrival on tour in 2019.
The Iranian has found it difficult to gain any momentum on tour this year with a number of early exits the story of his season so far.
The same can't be said for Page who came runner-up in the Championship League at the beginning of the season and reached the quarter-final in Nanjing in the International Championship only to be defeated by one of the players of the season Xiao Guodong.
Going on form alone, it may be advisable to side with Page in this one.
Prediction: Page 6-3
Wu Yize V David Lilley 19:00
Yize will hope to qualify for the UK Championship for only the 2nd time in his career as he faces David Lilley as the pair face-off for the first time.
His run to the English Open final in Brentwood is by far the best result of his career, unfortunately for him he was narrowly defeated 9-7 by Neil Robertson.
It's been a quiet season for Lilley but his 6-3 defeat of Thepchaiya Un-Nooh yesterday was very impressive. Un-Nooh can be very dangerous when he finds his rhythm and to come through that test with plenty to spare will set him up nicely for a tough assignment in Yize.
What we have seen over the last 12 months shows that Yize is a potential up-and-coming star in the game and I fancy him to come through today's test and book his place in York.
Prediction: 6-2 Yize
Barry Hawkins V Wang Yuchen 19:00
A nightmare draw for Yuchen, having played brilliantly to win three matches (V Ullah, M Davis, R Williams) to get to this stage, he faces an uphill task to overturn world number 20 and seasoned-pro Barry Hawkins.
Making two centuries in a 6-4 defeat of Robbie Williams was an impressive way to reach this round as he hope to make the UK Championship for the 3rd time in his short career.
In my opinion, Hawkins is still a top 16 player and can defeat anyone on his day and if getting through today's match with Yuchen will be a name the majority of top 16 players will want to avoid in Thursday's draw.
Having reached the semi-final in York in 2021, The Hawk will have his sights set on emulating if not bettering that result this year.
After making quarter-finals in both the British Open and Xi'an Grand Prix this season, Hawkins will have aspirations of making a deep run in the first of this season's Triple Crown Events.
Prediction: 6-2 Hawkins
Ryan Day V Sanderson Lam 19:00
The pair have only played once before with Day coming out on top in 2016 at the Indian Open (4-0).
Since then, Day has added two winning records to his CV with the 2022 British Open and 2021 shoot out with a quarter-final at the 2023 Scottish Open Lam's best run.
It has been a relatively quiet season for the pair so far as they have struggled to find consistency and string a number of good results together.
But tonight's match presents a big opportunity for both, this is why I feel it will go the distance.
Prediction: Lam 6-5
Jack Lisowski V Bai Yulu 19:00
The performance's of Women's World Champion Bai Yulu to get to this stage have been nothing short of Phenomenal.
In defeating Farakh Ajaib, Jamie Jones and Scott Donaldson, she has shown glimpses of her class and is only one win away from making history within the sport.
Going into all three matches, Yulu was a resounding underdog but came through each test with flying colours as she continues to represent the Women's game with huge pride on the biggest stage.
Tonight she faces her biggest task though as Jack Lisowski stands in her way of reaching the UK Championship main draw.
The world number 21 has flattered to deceive at times over the past few years but is a dangerous opponent for anyone on his day.
To reach this round he defeated Rory Thor 6-4 making 1 century (123) in the process.
His season to date has been largely disappointing with very few appearances in the latter stages of tournaments as he aims to win his first ranking title.
A Yulu victory would be huge for the sport as a whole but I feel it may be a step too far for the impressive 21-year-old.
Prediction: 6-2 Lisowski
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