The UK Snooker Championship is one the biggest events on the sporting calendar and takes places at the Barbican in York. It the second biggest ranking event in the professional game, and is currently one of the three triple crown events.
It was established in 1977, and is one of the most-watched snooker events. It typically takes place at the end of the year, and tends to begin in late-November. The event takes place over a two-week period, typically concluding in early December.
It is organised by the WPBSA, and there is a total prize fund of £850,000 available. The winner will receive £170,000 of the purse whilst the runner-up will collect around £75,000.
The prize money available for competitors at the UK Championship always results in a high-quality field. Ronnie O’Sullivan is the most successful player in this event, and he secured his seventh title in December 2018. His latest success helped him surpass Steve Davis’ total of six, whilst Stephen Hendry was triumphant on five occasions. John Higgins, Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui have also won the tournament more than once. The latter is one of the only two players from the outside of the UK to have enjoyed more than a single success at this event. Patsy Fagan was the inaugural winner of the UK Snooker Championship.
The tournament hasn’t always been held at the Barbican. It was originally staged at the Tower Circus in Blackpool with only British passport holders allowed to enter the competition. The Guild Hall in Preston also staged the event on multiple occasions with the last being in 1997. The Telford International Centre hosted the UK Snooker Championships for three years between 2007 and 2010.
It was not granted a ranking status until 1984, and the field was opened up to all professional players. Only three other tournaments now offer more ranking points than the UK Snooker Championship.
The event has produced a number of memorable moments including Alex Higgins’ sensational comeback in 1983. The Hurricane was 7-0 down at the end of the first session, but roared back to beat Steve Davis 16-15. The Stephen Hendry vs Ken Doherty final of 1994 is often fondly remembered by snooker fans as well. The 2007 final featured the longest televised frame with viewers glued to the action for 77 minutes.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s first victory in the tournament came in 1993, as he became the youngest-ever winner of the event.
A field of 128 competitors arrive in York each year hoping to reach the final of the event, but they quickly become whittled down to just two. Matches up to (and including) the semi-finals are held over the best-of-11-frames format. The final is currently a best-of-19 frames event. This has been the case since 2011.
When and Where?
The UK Snooker Championship has changed venues on a number of occasions, but it’s current residency is at the Barbican in York. It is typically held at the end of the calendar year, starting in late November, running until early-December.
Why is it so Popular?
It is a major ranking event on the snooker calendar, and a chance for fans to catch the majority of the top-ranked players in action. The best-of-11 frame format often results in competitive matches, which tend not to last several days.
It’s position in the calendar is also a bonus. There is a big enough gap between the World Snooker Championships and the UK Snooker Championships to keep anticipation high. It is also held in winter, a time when many snooker fans in the UK tend to be indoors, and therefore viewing figures are always high.
There is always plenty of drama at the UK Snooker Championship, and plenty of headlines are made at this tournament. Players such as Ronnie O’Sullivan will always attract the attention of the media, and there is plenty of focus on the Barbican during this two-week period.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
There are many betting opportunities available ahead of the UK Snooker Championships. Ante-post bets are extremely popular with snooker aficianados, whilst in-play punts are also commonplace. Many bettors prefer to simply wager match-by-match whilst accumulators are always popular during the opening couple of rounds.
Bookmakers will price up the outright market months in advance. Match betting becomes available once the draw has been made.
Key Betting Markets
Ante-Post
UK Championship Winner – This is the simplest, but also the most popular betting market ahead of the tournament. Bettors can predict which player will be victorious at the event, and they must lift the trophy in order to receive a pay-out. Each-Way betting is also available, with bookmakers paying two places on this market. This is ideal for bigger-priced outsiders.
To Reach the Final – This market is also available months in advance and requires punters to predict which player will make it all the way to the final. You will be paid out at full odds if your chosen player competes in the final at the beginning of December. This is different to the EW market (as detailed above) which will pay out at 1/2 the odds.
To Reach the Semi-Final/Quarter-Final – As above, but with players backed to reach the final four/final eight. Players such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins will typically start at odds-on prices in this market as they are expected to get to this stage. However, these markets are ideal for younger players or those big-priced competitors who aren’t expected to make it beyond the opening couple of rounds.
Will There be a 147 at the Tournament? – Punters are given the opportunity to predict whether there will be a 147-break at each tournament. With a high quality field, there is always a chance of one occuring at the UK Snooker Championship.
Match-by-Match Betting
To Win the Match – Each match will be priced up a couple of days before it gets underway. This will enable punters to select which player they believe will be victorious, and qualify for the next round. These are 50/50 markets, and therefore odds-on prices are commonplace. Favourites are often long odds-on to make it through the opening couple of rounds, although shocks do happen at major ranking events.
Total Frames – This is a great way of betting without having to predict which of the two players will win the match. In the best-of-eleven format, these can be priced up at Under/Over 8.5 or Under/Over 7.5 Frames. This will obviously increase ahead of the final. Punters must predict whether it will be one-sided game or whether it will be nip-and-tuck and go all the way to a deciding frame.
Mini-Session Betting – Each game will be broken down in mini-sessions, often with one of these played in the morning, followed by recommencement in the afternoon. Punters can predict which player will be winning at the end of the first mini-session or whether it will be level. Typically, each mini-session will consist of around 4-6 frames.
Handicap Betting – This is ideal for matches which are seemingly one-sided. Handicap betting allows the opportunity to predict dominance, and it is particularly prominent during the early stages of the UK Snooker Championship. For example -2.5 Frames would require your chosen player to win by three clear frames in order to receive a pay-out. +2.5 Frames would suggest that the underdog will keep it close.
Correct Score Betting – Bigger prices are available on these markets. There are a numerous options when it comes to predicting the correct score, and many bettors often choose to keep their options open by backing a number of these pre-match.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for UK Snooker Championship
Handicap Markets are the Best Way to Bet in the First Round – Whilst many punters will choose to put together sizeable accumulators in the first round of games, it may be best to look at the handicap markets instead. There are 128 players entering the tournament, and therefore there are plenty of betting opportunities during the opening couple of days. Experienced players will win at a canter, so it’s always best to look for those professional competitors who simply turn up and get the job done every single year. Meanwhile, also look for players who have been slowly moving up the rankings and making a name for themselves on the circuit. They may just spring a surprise or two by giving the more experienced players a scare.
Analyse a Players Mentality Pre-tournament – This is key when betting on the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump. The former’s play is often dependent on his mood, and there are times when he can come across as laboured and disinterested. If he is playing well, and he’s spoken about looking forward to the tournament, that is a good sign. However, if has been away filming TV shows or spouting off about his disdain of the event, it might be best to avoid putting too much faith in him.
Plot a Players Path to the Final – Although it is sometimes possible to get extra value by backing a player to win the tournament earlier in the year, it can often be advised to wait until the drawn is made. Players can sometimes be given a relatively straightforward path to the final two, and this is the ideal situation. Once the draw has been made, it is possible to predict who they will play in each round (based on the assumption that the other player will progress), and this can make things a little easier. If a player is set to avoid fellow top seeds or any of the big-hitters, it could be worth backing them to reach the final.
