Snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to British soil today, launching his campaign for a historic ninth UK Championship title at York's Barbican Centre. 'The Rocket' faces China's Zhou Yuelong in his opening match of this prestigious Triple Crown event.
O’Sullivan's Historic Quest in York
Ronnie O’Sullivan arrives in Yorkshire aiming to extend his already unparalleled record in the tournament. He holds eight UK Championship victories, his most recent secured in 2023 when he became the event's oldest winner at 47 years and 363 days. Remarkably, he also remains its youngest ever champion, a title he claimed as a 17-year-old back in 1993.
This year's competition carries extra significance as O’Sullivan will celebrate his 50th birthday on quarter-final day. Despite residing in Dubai after selling his Essex home, he returns as a top-five ranked player, though he seeks his first ranking event win since the World Grand Prix in January 2024.
Today's Match Details and Tournament Schedule
O’Sullivan's first-round match against Zhou Yuelong is a best-of-11 frames encounter scheduled for 1pm GMT on Tuesday 2 December. The match forms part of the last 32 stage at the Barbican Centre, where the tournament began on Saturday 29 November and concludes with the final on Sunday 7 December.
Should he progress, a potential last-16 clash with old rival Mark Selby awaits. Selby plays his own last-32 match against Lei Peifan also at 1pm today.
How to Watch the UK Championship
Fans in the UK can follow all the action across multiple platforms:
- BBC Coverage: Matches are broadcast on BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website.
- TNT Sports: The tournament is also available on TNT Sports, with streaming via the Discovery+ app for subscribers.
Prize Money and Tournament Context
The winner of the 2025 UK Championship will receive a top prize of £250,000, from a total prize pot of £1,205,000. The runner-up earns £100,000, with significant sums awarded at each stage.
O’Sullivan enters the event amid a season of surprising results, with 11 different winners from the 11 professional tournaments played so far. Yet, his aura on the baize remains undimmed, making him the heavy favourite against Zhou Yuelong as he begins his pursuit of a singular ninth crown.
