Steeped in historical past, the UK Championship is the third-oldest skilled match on the snooker calendar.
A mainstay on the schedule since 1977, many of the sport’s greatest names have etched their names onto the trophy.
What started as a match for under gamers from or with everlasting residency within the UK, it finally turned a rating occasion open to the entire circuit in 1984.
Here’s a rundown of all the UK Championship snooker finals in its lengthy and illustrious historical past.
1977
Patsy Fagan 12-9 Doug Mountjoy
The inaugural UK Championship was, considerably mockingly, gained by an Irishman with Patsy Fagan beating Doug Mountjoy within the ultimate.
Fagan, a Dubliner residing in London, gained a few deciders to succeed in the title-deciding affair the place he duly secured the most important title of his profession.
1978
Doug Mountjoy 15-9 David Taylor
Redemption for Mountjoy got here a 12 months later when the Welshman triumphed with a 15-9 scoreline in opposition to David Taylor.
This version of the UK Championship was staged on the Preston Guild Corridor, a venue that will grow to be the match’s everlasting residence for 20 years.
1979
John Virgo 14-13 Terry Griffiths
The 1979 ultimate proved to be a memorable affair for a variety of causes, with John Virgo pipping Terry Griffiths in a decider regardless of having been docked two frames for arriving late for a session.
A strike by BBC personnel in the course of the ultimate frames, nonetheless, meant that Virgo’s profession spotlight was neither broadcast nor recorded.
1980
Steve Davis 16-6 Alex Higgins
The primary of three UK Championship finals in 5 years between Steve Davis and Alex Higgins, the Nugget comprehensively gained his maiden main title.
On the time Davis was solely 23 years-old, and the pair’s fractious rivalry within the following decade would grow to be iconic.
1981
Steve Davis 16-3 Terry Griffiths
Davis turned the primary two-time champion of the occasion with an much more convincing ultimate victory in 1981.
Having overwhelmed Terry Griffiths 9-0 within the earlier 12 months’s semi-finals, one other thrashing ensued right here with Davis dropping simply three frames.
1982
Terry Griffiths 16-15 Alex Higgins
Griffiths bounced again from that crushing defeat by beating Davis en path to reaching the ultimate once more in 1982.
The 1979 world champion gained the final three frames of the ultimate to edge Higgins in an exciting battle, 16-15.
1983
Alex Higgins 16-15 Steve Davis
The same theme materialised in 1983 when Higgins conjured a comeback for the ages to beat Davis by the identical one-frame margin.
Having overwhelmed Griffiths within the final 4, the Northern Irishman misplaced the primary seven body of the ultimate earlier than mounting a exceptional turnaround.
1984
Steve Davis 16-8 Alex Higgins
In 1984, Davis raced right into a 5-0 lead, and this time there have been no meltdowns suffered.
On this event, the reigning world champion saved his foot on the fuel to dominate his outdated foe and seize the primary UK Championship staged as a rating occasion.
1985
Steve Davis 16-14 Willie Thorne
A distinct 12 months however the same final result as Davis gained his fourth UK title with a 16-14 conquer Willie Thorne.
The latter was left to rue an notorious missed blue that will have given him a 14-8 benefit.
1986
Steve Davis 16-7 Neal Foulds
Three in a row for Davis, with Neal Foulds a powerless sufferer on the other facet of the desk.
This version is maybe remembered extra for Alex Higgins’ headbutting of a match director – an incident that resulted in a five-tournament ban for the Hurricane.
1987
Steve Davis 16-14 Jimmy White
Make that 4 on the bounce, with Davis edging Jimmy White in a traditional battle.
The 1987 UK Championship was additionally notable for Willie Thorne’s 147, marking solely the fourth ever in snooker historical past.
1988
Doug Mountjoy 16-12 Stephen Hendry
Davis was lastly stopped within the 1988 semi-finals by an rising star from Scotland named Stephen Hendry.
However Hendry was to be denied his first main title by a resurgent Doug Mountjoy, who gained his maiden rating title on the age of 46.
1989
Stephen Hendry 16-12 Steve Davis
The primary of two UK Championship finals that signalled the altering of the guard on the prime of the sport.
Hendry, who was starting to make profitable really feel like a behavior, beat Davis 16-12.
1990
Stephen Hendry 16-15 Steve Davis
The identical protagonists and the same final result, albeit it was a tighter affair than the 12 months beforehand.
Hendry gained the final two frames to disclaim Davis a file seventh UK crown in a decider.
1991
John Parrott 16-13 Jimmy White
Having already overwhelmed the Whirlwind within the 1991 World Championship ultimate, John Parrott made it a pleasant double on the UKs.
White beat defending champion Hendry within the semi-finals however fell brief within the ultimate, shedding 16-13 to Liverpool’s Parrott.
1992
Jimmy White 16-9 John Parrott
Twelve months on and White obtained his revenge to safe essentially the most prestigious rating title of his profession.
The 1992 version additionally noticed a younger Ronnie O’Sullivan make his debut within the match, the place he reached the final 32.
1993
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Stephen Hendry
O’Sullivan was to do significantly better on his second try, going all the best way to the ultimate in Preston.
Simply shy of his 18th birthday, the Rocket introduced himself as the game’s latest star by beating world primary Hendry within the ultimate.
1994
Stephen Hendry 10-5 Ken Doherty
Hendry was to not be denied in 1994, coming by a decent semi-final with Peter Ebdon earlier than orchestrating an unimaginable show within the ultimate.
In opposition to Ken Doherty, Hendry compiled seven century breaks in probably the most legendary shows of all time.
1995
Stephen Hendry 10-3 Peter Ebdon
Solely a brace of tons from Hendry on this ultimate however the same final result, as he thrashed Peter Ebdon 10-3.
The Scot made a uncommon 146 break within the ultimate body to wrap up his fourth UK Championship success.
1996
Stephen Hendry 10-9 John Higgins
Hendry was examined considerably extra in 1996, with countryman John Higgins one other comparatively recent face on the scene.
A topsy-turvy tie ended with Hendry profitable the final two frames to clinch UK glory for the final time.
1997
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Stephen Hendry
4 years on from their first UK Championship ultimate, O’Sullivan and Hendry met once more with silverware on the road in 1997.
The result was the very same, a 10-6 victory for O’Sullivan in what proved to be the occasion’s final go to to Preston.
1998
John Higgins 10-6 Matthew Stevens
O’Sullivan withdrew from the 1998 match, and it was fellow Class of 1992 graduate John Higgins who benefited.
The Wizard of Wishaw had already gained the World Championship earlier within the 12 months, and he added a primary UK title by beating Matthew Stevens.
1999
Mark Williams 10-8 Matthew Stevens
Stevens was to be on the shedding facet of the ultimate once more a 12 months later.
A detailed all-Welsh title decider went the best way of Mark Williams, and the result can be the identical on the World Championship ultimate later that very same season.
2000
John Higgins 10-4 Mark Williams
By the flip of the millennium, Williams had grow to be essentially the most dominant power within the sport.
However he was powerless to forestall Higgins from profitable the 2000 ultimate, shedding a one-sided battle 10-4.
2001
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-1 Ken Doherty
In what was the primary UK Championship staged on the Barbican Centre in York, O’Sullivan annihilated Ken Doherty within the ultimate.
The Rocket claimed his third UK title with a dominant 10-1 victory over the Irishman.
2002
Mark Williams 10-9 Ken Doherty
Doherty skilled the frustration of defeat in a ultimate for a 3rd time a 12 months later.
This time, he supplied a a lot stronger problem however was denied success by Williams in a decider.
2003
Matthew Stevens 10-8 Stephen Hendry
By 2003, Stevens had established a repute as one of the best participant to have by no means gained a rating occasion.
The 2000 Masters champion lastly put that to relaxation, edging a resurgent Jimmy White within the semi-finals after which Stephen Hendry within the ultimate.
2004
Stephen Maguire 10-1 David Grey
When Stephen Maguire destroyed the sector on the 2004 UK Championship, many believed he would grow to be the game’s latest star.
It didn’t fairly work out that method, and this title stays the Glaswegian’s solely Triple Crown piece of silverware.
2005
Ding Junhui 10-6 Steve Davis
Approaching his 50s, Steve Davis rolled again the years with defeats of Maguire, Doherty, and Hendry in 2005.
A younger Ding Junhui proved to be a step too far for the fairy story ending, with the Chinese language competitor changing into the primary non-British or Irish UK Championship winner in snooker historical past.
2006
Peter Ebdon 10-6 Stephen Hendry
After accounting for Ding within the final eight, Peter Ebdon proceeded to beat Scottish duo Higgins and Hendry to bag his second Triple Crown trophy.
The 2006 UK Championship can also be remembered for a wierd second when Ronnie O’Sullivan conceded his quarter-final match in opposition to Hendry in the midst of the sixth body.
2007
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-2 Stephen Maguire
O’Sullivan was again to his sensible finest in 2007, although, because the occasion moved to Telford.
After reaching the ultimate by compiling a 147 break within the deciding body in opposition to Mark Selby, O’Sullivan thumped Maguire 10-2.
2008
Shaun Murphy 10-9 Marco Fu
A a lot tighter showdown adopted in 2008, with Shaun Murphy edging Marco Fu in a 10-9 thriller.
Whereas he was already within the ascendancy within the ultimate body, a fluke for Murphy cruelly ended Fu’s hopes of a primary main title.
2009
Ding Junhui 10-8 John Higgins
Ding Junhui’s second UK title got here on the expense of John Higgins in 2009.
Ding beat reigning champion Murphy within the final 16 and later edged out the Scot in a detailed ultimate.
2010
John Higgins 10-9 Mark Williams
In 2010, Higgins had solely just lately returned to the game following a six-month ban for bringing the sport into disrepute.
In search of redemption, he accomplished an unimaginable comeback by profitable the final 5 frames to disclaim Mark Williams in a decider.
2011
Judd Trump 10-8 Mark Allen
In 2011, the UK Championship returned to the Barbican Centre in York, the place it has principally stayed ever since.
Judd Trump and Mark Allen cooked up an exhilarating pre-Christmas serving to of snooker, with the Englishman holding on to win 10-8.
2012
Mark Selby 10-6 Shaun Murphy
Mark Selby claimed his first UK Championship title with a 10-6 victory over Shaun Murphy within the 2012 ultimate.
This version boasted a tremendous three 147 breaks – two within the qualifying levels and one by John Higgins on the venue.
2013
Neil Robertson 10-7 Mark Selby
Selby returned to the ultimate in 2013, however on this event he was denied by Neil Robertson.
By profitable the UK Championship title for the primary time, Robertson turned the eighth participant in snooker historical past to finish the profession Triple Crown.
2014
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-9 Judd Trump
One other UK title for O’Sullivan, who bounced again strongly from shedding the World Championship ultimate to Selby that very same 12 months.
O’Sullivan sat and watched as a charging Trump fought again from 9-4 right down to power a decider, however the Rocket held on.
2015
Neil Robertson 10-5 Liang Wenbo
Robertson’s conquer Liang Wenbo in 2015 introduced him a second UK crown in three stagings.
The Melbourne man compiled a 147 in opposition to Liang, changing into the primary participant to perform the feat in a Triple Crown ultimate.
2016
Mark Selby 10-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
The Selby-Robertson-O’Sullivan stranglehold on the match continued in 2016.
Selby etched his identify onto the silverware for a second time with a 10-7 conquer O’Sullivan.
2017
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 Shaun Murphy
O’Sullivan returned to the champion’s enclosure in 2017, nonetheless, by beating Shaun Murphy within the ultimate.
In doing so, the Englishman matched Steve Davis’ longstanding file of six UK titles.
2018
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Mark Allen
That file was duly damaged in 2018, with O’Sullivan efficiently defending the crown courtesy of a 10-6 victory in opposition to Mark Allen.
This success additionally represented O’Sullivan’s nineteenth within the Triple Crown sequence, eclipsing Stephen Hendry’s tally of 18.
2019
Ding Junhui 10-6 Stephen Maguire
An sudden 2019 ultimate encounter pitted a resurgent Ding Junhui in opposition to a resurgent Stephen Maguire.
Few anticipated the pair to problem for the honours, however they served up an entertaining ultimate – compiling seven century breaks between them – as Ding sealed his third UK crown.
2020
Neil Robertson 10-9 Judd Trump
Staged behind closed doorways on the Marshall Area in Milton Keynes on account of a world pandemic, the 2020 UK Championship had a really completely different really feel to it.
But the ultimate between Neil Robertson and Judd Trump went all the best way right down to the ultimate pink, which Trump missed and Robertson potted to win 10-9.
2021
Zhao Xintong 10-5 Luca Brecel
Returning to York a 12 months later, there was large pleasure surrounding the emergence of two younger stars.
Zhao Xintong downed Luca Brecel 10-5 within the ultimate, though the previous’s repute took a extreme hit not lengthy after amid match-fixing allegations.
2022
Mark Allen 10-7 Ding Junhui
Main 6-1, it regarded as if Ding was going to bag a fourth UK crown in what was turning into his favorite match.
However Mark Allen fought again in large trend by profitable 9 of the remaining ten frames to disclaim the Chinese language cuiest.
2023
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Ding Junhui
Ding returned to succeed in a 3rd ultimate in 5 UK Championship editions, however he once more fell one hurdle in need of touchdown a fourth title in 2023.
As an alternative, it was Ronnie O’Sullivan who triumphed for the primary time since 2018, extending his file tally of titles within the prestigious Triple Crown match to eight.
The forty eighth UK Championship in snooker historical past takes place from November 23 to December 1, 2024. Extra particulars on the match will be discovered right here.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
