Shaun Murphy v Ding Junhui: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Ding Junhui tends to come alive whenever the UK Championship comes around at the York Barbican and the Chinese sensation will have his eyes set on another deep run in the first Triple Crown event of the season.

Not only is Ding a three-time winner of the event but, after a lean spell, he has finished runner-up in the last two years and will be bidding to go one better this season.

The 37-year-old faces a tricky last-16 test against Shaun Murphy and he was made to work hard in his first-round clash with Robert Milkins, coming from 5-3 down to prevail 6-5 in an epic.

However, Ding showed plenty of character and his confidence should be high after he ended his five-year wait for a ranking title by winning the International Championship in Nanjing in November.

That should have eased some pressure, although Murphy will also be feeling pretty positive following his 6-5 victory over 2021 champion Zhao Xintong in the opening round.

The Magician has also previously lifted this title, in 2008 following victory over Marco Fu, while he has twice finished runner-up in 2012 and 2017.

The winner of this contest would face Barry Hawkins or Dave Gilbert in the quarter-final, so there is a big incentive for the victor as they'd start a strong favourite in the last eight.

Shaun Murphy v Ding Junhui betting tips and predictions

Ding Junhui to win - 4/5

Ronnie O'Sullivan's early elimination will offer plenty of hope to those in the first quarter of the draw and both Ding and Murphy will believe they have what it takes to capitalise with a deep run.

This is a tight betting heat, with Ding narrowly preferred, and it is easy to see why given the way in which he raises his game for this tournament.

The Dragon has finished runner-up to Allen and O'Sullivan in the last two years, suffering 10-7 defeats on each occasion, but the difference this time around is he arrives in winning form.

Ding had gone five years without a ranking title before winning the International Championship on home soil in November, and that could ease his nerves if he were to experience another final at the York Barbican.

The Chinese cueman simply loves this tournament and there was plenty to like about his effort against Milkins, which featured a break of 135 to level the contest at 5-5.

Murphy also had to dig deep in a 6-5 win over Xintong but he may lack the gears of Ding, who remains one of the best break-builders on tour when given the opportunity.

Ding has found some consistency, having lost only two of his last 13 matches, and he was the 5-3 winner when he last met Murphy at the World Open in March.

Prior to beating Xintong, Murphy had suffered three straight defeats to Judd Trump, Chris Wakelin and Mark Selby and he may be found wanting against an opponent who so often thrives in front of this Yorkshire crowd.

Ding Junhui to have the highest break - 4/5

Ding showed his class with a 135 break under pressure when trailing Milkins 5-4 in his first-round encounter and should get plenty of opportunities to compile the highest break against Murphy.

The Magician made knocks of 98, 76, 75 and 61 in his 6-5 beating of Xintong in the opening round but Ding is far more composed when in amongst the balls and he has made at least one century in five of his last seven matches.

Murphy, meanwhile, has managed only one century across his last five starts, so backing Ding to win and have the highest break could reap the rewards.

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Shaun Murphy v Ding Junhui odds

Shaun Murphy - 1/1
Ding Junhui - 4/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.