The UK Championship is one of professional snooker's three Triple Crown events, alongside The Masters and the World Snooker Championship. First held in 1977 — the same year the World Championship moved to the Crucible — the UK Championship has grown into one of the most prestigious and prestigious tournaments on the calendar, with a prize fund of £1,173,000 in 2025. Unlike The Masters, the UK Championship is open to all players on the World Snooker Tour, making it a true open ranking event as well as a Triple Crown title.
The tournament has been held at the York Barbican in York for a number of years, providing one of the most distinctive venues in professional snooker. With its consistently large fields, high-stakes format, and regular production of memorable matches, the UK Championship is considered by many players as the second most important event of the snooker year, sitting only behind the World Championship in prestige.
York Barbican
The York Barbican is a purpose-built entertainment and conference venue in the historic city of York. Opened in 1991, the main auditorium holds up to 1,900 people in its concert configuration and provides an excellent atmosphere for snooker. The venue's central location in one of England's most visited cities brings a strong crowd each year, and its layout — with steeply raked seating that ensures every audience member has a clear sightline to the table — makes it a favourite with both players and spectators.
York itself adds to the event's character. Players and media have access to one of Britain's finest medieval cities during the tournament fortnight, and the UK Championship has become firmly associated with the city's unique atmosphere during the late-autumn period.
Tournament Format
The UK Championship is one of the largest tournaments in snooker by field size. All professional tour players are eligible to enter, resulting in a field that typically reaches 128 players or more in the qualifying rounds.
Prize Money
The 2025 UK Championship carried a total prize fund of £1,173,000.
| Round | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | £200,000 |
| Runner-up | £80,000 |
| Semi-finalists (×2) | £40,000 each |
| Quarter-finalists (×4) | £20,000 each |
| Last 16 (×8) | £12,000 each |
| Last 32 (×16) | £7,000 each |
| Last 64 (×32) | £4,000 each |
| Total | £1,173,000 |
Where to Watch the UK Championship
The UK Championship receives full live television coverage on free-to-air and subscription channels.
Past Champions (2015–2025)
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Zhao Xintong | Neil Robertson | 10–3 |
| 2024 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ding Junhui | 10–5 |
| 2023 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Mark Williams | 10–2 |
| 2022 | Zhao Xintong | Luca Brecel | 10–6 |
| 2021 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Mark Selby | 10–4 |
| 2020 | Judd Trump | Neil Robertson | 10–3 |
| 2019 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Mark Selby | 10–5 |
| 2018 | Mark Allen | Kyren Wilson | 10–7 |
| 2017 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Barry Hawkins | 10–1 |
| 2016 | Judd Trump | Ricky Walden | 10–3 |
| 2015 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Marco Fu | 10–7 |