Barry Hawkins gets the first frame on the board. The 46-year-old Englishman would be a hugely popular UK Champion if he were to go one better than 12 months ago.

What a start. Shaun Murphy knocks in 11 reds and 10 blacks and looks well on course for a maximum 147 break but then misses a black to the right corner.

The Englishman has won the opening frame but looks disgusted with himself.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at York Barbican

I actually saw Elliot Slessor having a late-night chat over a drink with coach Chris Henry, when I got back to my hotel from the York Barbican on Wednesday evening.

I wonder what they were cooking up for this evening?

Image source, BBC Sport

This could well be a classic.

The players are just walking out. I hope you've made it on time everyone.

BBC Two

We have a couple of potentially cracking matches about to get under way at York Barbican this evening.

On table one former UK champions John Higgins and Shaun Murphy face off in the headline match of the evening.

While last year's beaten finalist Barry Hawkins is also in action against Elliot Slessor on table two.

Remember you can stay across all the coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app, and on network TV.

Scott Donaldson gets in first but plays a safety on 22 and is punished after a sensational long red from Ding Junhui.

It builds up to a break of 109 and gets the three-time UK Champion through.

Wow. Scott Donaldson came from 5-0 down to defeat Stuart Bingham in qualifying.

But if he were to win this match it would surely rank just as highly even though he has a pretty decent record against Ding Junhui.

One frame down, two to go. Well if Scott Donaldson is to turn this around. A break of 81 means he is still out there battling on.

Ding Junhui is one away from a place in the last eight. It is last-chance saloon time for Scott Donaldson. He a chance in that frame but couldn't take it.

Scott Donaldson has looked far more settled since frame four and he takes a third frame in the last four with a run of 69.

Image source, PA Media

Zhang Anda has layed some superb snooker and takes the seventh frame with a 73.

He follows that up by winning a see-saw eighth frame to advance at the expense of the world champion.

Ding Junhui holds off a Scott Donaldson charge to regain his two-frame lead.

Scotland's Donaldson had half a chance of nicking that one but misses a double on a red to the middle, which is dispatched by his opponent into the top left corner a few shots down the line.

Zhang Anda has no right to win this frame.

Zhao Xintong constructs a 43-point lead but misses a red to the corner and a black to the left corner to give his compatriot a reprieve and at the second time of asking Zhang does the business, enjoying a run of 69 to stretch his lead.

Image source, PA Media

He couldn't could he?

Scott Donaldson gets back to 3-2 with a half century break. If he were to defeat Ding Junhui it would be the second major upset he has caused at this year's UK Championship.

Zhang Anda is playing some wonderful snooker this afternoon. A sensational long red lays the platform for a run of 87 and he regains the lead.

He is putting the world champion under some serious pressure.

Well played Scott Donaldson. He gets his first frame on the board with a magnificent break of 118.

That is so timely with the players now going off for the interval.

Image source, BBC Sport

What a match this is. Zhao Xintong bounces back to draw level at the mid-session interval with a run of 68.

This match remains in the balance.

This could get messy for Scott Donaldson.

Ding Junhui is one of those players who tends to reserve some of his best snooker for the UK Championship and he looks to be enjoying himself as he knocks in a 76 to further extend his lead.

Zhang Anda clears the table with a break of 129.

Zhao Xintong has been completely frozen out in the last two frames.