The prestigious UK Championship snooker tournament is back for its 2025 edition, with the world's finest cueists converging on the Barbican Centre in York. As one of snooker's coveted Triple Crown events, the title is a major prize for any player.
Title Defence and Major Contenders
The defending champion is world number one Judd Trump, who clinched his second UK Championship last year with a gripping 10-8 final victory over Barry Hawkins. Trump began the defence of his crown with a determined 6-4 win against 2004 champion Stephen Maguire in the last 32. Interestingly, Trump has not won a ranking event since his York triumph 12 months ago, and will be hoping this tournament sparks his season.
He faces stiff competition from the sport's biggest names. Ronnie O'Sullivan aims to extend his record haul of UK titles to nine, starting his campaign against Zhou Yuelong. A potential last-16 clash with old rival Mark Selby looms. The field is packed with talent, including reigning world champion Zhao Xintong, Masters champion Shaun Murphy, three-time UK winner Neil Robertson, and four-time world champion John Higgins.
Tournament Schedule and How to Watch
The 2025 UK Championship commenced on Saturday 29 November at the Barbican Centre in York. The tournament will climax with the two-session final on Sunday 7 December.
For viewers in the UK, the BBC provides comprehensive live coverage across BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website. The event is also being broadcast on TNT Sports, with subscribers able to stream matches live via the Discovery+ app.
Prize Money and Key Results
The total prize fund for the championship stands at a substantial £1,205,000. The winner will pocket a top prize of £250,000, with the runner-up receiving £100,000. There is also a £15,000 bonus for the highest break of the tournament.
Selected last-32 results so far include:
- Judd Trump 6-4 Stephen Maguire
- Neil Robertson 6-2 Julien Leclercq
- Shaun Murphy 6-2 Lyu Haotian
- Mark Williams 6-4 David Gilbert
- John Higgins 6-2 Ben Woollaston
- Zhao Xintong 6-1 Long Zehuang
The tournament continues this week with the last 32 and last 16 matches, building towards the quarter-finals on Friday 5 December and the semi-finals on Saturday 6 December.
