UK Championship: 2024 draw, preview, schedule, watch

With the 2024 UK Championship draw for the final 32 now full, it’s time to begin the venue levels on the Barbican Centre in York.

The qualifying competitors on the Mattioli Area in Leicester produced 16 qualifiers who’ve joined the 16 seeds within the first spherical correct.

Former champions Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire, and Zhao Xintong had been among the many rivals to make it by means of the preliminary rounds.

Already assured their spots within the season’s opening Triple Crown occasion had been the likes of reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and world primary Judd Trump.

A £250,000 champion’s cheque makes the highest prize one of the crucial profitable in snooker, and the UK Championship stays one of the crucial prestigious titles to win on the calendar.

Who’s within the 2024 UK Championship draw?

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Barry Hawkins

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the highest seed within the 2024 UK Championship draw because the match’s defending champion, with the Rocket bidding to say the crown for a record-extending ninth time.

His first opponent will likely be Barry Hawkins, who emerged from the qualifiers with routine victories over Alfie Burden and Wang Yuchen.

O’Sullivan has dominated his head-to-head with Hawkins and would be the heavy favorite once more right here, though the 48 year-old hasn’t been in particularly good type of late.

Xiao Guodong vs David Gilbert

A participant who positively is in type is Xiao Guodong, who beat O’Sullivan en path to a ultimate look on the current Champion of Champions.

Xiao, whose Wuhan Open triumph initiated his sudden rise into the highest 16, will face seasoned skilled David Gilbert – a 6-1 winner over Julien Leclercq on Judgement Day.

The pair share a good head-to-head document in all competitions, however Gilbert received their most up-to-date fixture in qualifying for this 12 months’s World Championship.

Shaun Murphy vs Zhao Xintong

Former winner Murphy has been in fairly good type this season with out having any silverware to point out for it.

The Magician couldn’t have wished for a a lot more durable process within the first spherical right here, having been paired with the rejuvenated Zhao Xintong.

The latter, mounting his comeback after serving his betting-related ban, stormed by means of the qualifiers and represents a darkish horse to match his UK triumph for 2021.

Ding Junhui vs Robert Milkins

Ding Junhui involves arguably his favorite venue on the circuit on the again of successful the Worldwide Championship on house soil – ending a four-year look forward to a rating title.

The Chinese language star has reached the UK ultimate 3 times within the final 5 years and can fancy his possibilities of mounting one other problem in 2024 when he takes on Robert Milkins in spherical one.

Milkins, whose poor season has been boosted by his shows in Leicester through the week, has overwhelmed Ding simply as soon as from seven earlier makes an attempt.

Mark Selby vs Jack Lisowski

There are a number of mouthwatering clashes within the first spherical with the bout between Mark Selby and Jack Lisowski representing certainly one of them.

Lisowski stays an inconsistent power of the sport, an underachiever who has to date failed to meet the immense expertise at his disposal.

Beating somebody of Selby’s calibre can be a confidence booster, however the latter boasts an edge from their head-to-head document.

Ali Carter vs Ryan Day

Ali Carter’s 2024/25 snooker season started with a bang along with his triumph at Championship League Snooker, however since then it has gone quiet.

Ryan Day hasn’t been significantly prolific both of late however has the benefit of being match sharp following his two wins within the qualifiers.

The duo share a good head-to-head document with six victories apiece from matches of best-of-seven frames or longer.

Si Jiahui vs Wu Yize

Certainly one of two all-Chinese language ties within the first spherical of the 2024 UK Championship draw, rising stars Si Jiahui and Wu Yize cross paths in York.

Si, twice a rating occasion runner-up in 2024, has already damaged into the highest 16 however Wu might be becoming a member of him sooner reasonably than later, buoyed by his run to the ultimate of the English Open.

They’ve solely performed one another as soon as on the principle tour with Si comfortably successful their Judgement Day showdown on the World Championship qualifiers in April.

Mark Allen vs Jackson Web page

Mark Allen is defending the rating factors that he earned by claiming the 2022 UK Championship title, so this will likely be an vital outing for the Pistol.

Jackson Web page is the Northern Irishman’s opening problem, the Welshman having emerged with a main-draw ticket due to victories over Jamie Clarke and Hossein Vafaei.

Considerably surprisingly, this would be the first time that Allen and Web page have encountered one another on the World Snooker Tour.

Judd Trump vs Neil Robertson

As massive of a blockbuster first-round fixture as they arrive, world primary Judd Trump will do battle with outdated rival Neil Robertson.

Robertson didn’t carry out significantly strongly within the qualifiers however emerged unscathed, and his reward is a gathering with Trump in what’s a repeat of the 2020 UK ultimate.

They performed one another not too long ago on the Champion of Champions, the place Robertson triumphed earlier than Trump accused the Australian of deliberate sluggish play.

UK Championship roll of honour

John Higgins vs He Guoqiang

John Higgins, the 14th seed within the 2024 UK Championship draw, received the final of his three UK Championship titles again in 2010.

Higgins made his first look a full 15 years previous to that, however his opponent He Guoqiang will likely be making his debut on the venue levels this 12 months.

He denied teenager Stan Moody 6-5 on Judgement Day within the qualifiers to arrange a showdown with Higgins, who he misplaced to on the only real event they met up to now.

Zhang Anda vs Lei Peifan

The second all-Chinese language fixture will likely be between Zhang Anda and Lei Peifan, the latter having emerged from the very first spherical of the qualifiers.

Zhang and Lei have by no means performed one another on the principle tour with 15 reds on the desk, solely crossing paths as soon as on the 2023 Six Purple World Championship.

The previous hasn’t produced the identical stage of consistency as he managed over the past marketing campaign, however he’ll anticipate to succeed in at the least the second spherical right here.

Mark Williams vs Stuart Bingham

Mark Williams received the final occasion on the calendar, the Welshman as soon as once more defying his age to land a maiden Champion of Champions crown in Bolton.

Nonetheless ranked as excessive as quantity six on the planet, the 49 year-old meets one other veteran of the upper echelons of the sport in Stuart Bingham.

Bingham requires a UK title to finish the profession Triple Crown and boasts a good head-to-head document with Williams – successful 10 instances from their 20 prior conferences in all comps.

Luca Brecel vs Jak Jones

Luca Brecel desperately wants rating factors if he’s to keep away from ending the season and not using a tour card – the Belgian’s provisional end-of-season rating at the moment standing at a lowly 61.

It’s all gone horribly improper since his unbelievable success on the Crucible Theatre 18 months in the past, and struggling relegation from the circuit can be as embarrassing a decline as they arrive.

Jak Jones hasn’t produced rather a lot since making his personal World Championship ultimate look in Could, however the Welshman will certainly be content material sufficient with this draw.

Gary Wilson vs Michael Holt

Michael Holt should have thought that his time on the prime was over when he was demoted from the skilled tour in 2022.

However the Hitman has fought his means again and can grace the Barbican Centre once more having progressed from the opening qualifying hurdle.

Holt meets fellow Englishman Gary Wilson, a participant he has overwhelmed on each events they’ve clashed in rating occasions beforehand.

Chris Wakelin vs Matthew Selt

Chris Wakelin picked a superb time to affix the highest 16 of the world rankings for the primary time in his profession.

The 32 year-old has represented a vastly improved competitor over the course of the final two years and has an elevated rating now to point out for it.

Wakelin’s reward for being a seed is a date with Matthew Selt, who superior from the qualifiers with defeats of Aaron Hill and Zhou Yuelong.

Kyren Wilson vs Stephen Maguire

Kyren Wilson will start his quest to finish a uncommon World-UK Championship double in the identical calendar 12 months when he faces Stephen Maguire.

It’s the twentieth anniversary of Maguire’s UK triumph, which since then has stood as his solely Triple Crown piece of silverware.

Wilson boasts a superior head-to-head document from this duel, however Maguire has a really robust UK Championship document total – underlined through the qualifiers by turning into solely the third participant to compile greater than 100 century breaks within the match’s historical past.

2024 UK Championship draw and schedule

Spherical 1 (bo11)

Occasions are in UTC

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Barry Hawkins
Saturday, Nov 23 – 1pm

Xiao Guodong vs David Gilbert
Saturday, Nov 23 – 7pm

Shaun Murphy vs Zhao Xintong
Saturday, Nov 23 – 1pm

Ding Junhui vs Robert Milkins
Saturday, Nov 23 – 7pm

Mark Selby vs Jack Lisowski
Sunday, Nov 24 – 7pm

Ali Carter vs Ryan Day
Sunday, Nov 24 – 1pm

Si Jiahui vs Wu Yize
Sunday, Nov 24 – 7pm

Mark Allen vs Jackson Web page
Sunday, Nov 24 – 1pm

Judd Trump vs Neil Robertson
Tuesday, Nov 26 – 1pm

John Higgins vs He Guoqiang
Tuesday, Nov 26 – 1pm

Zhang Anda vs Lei Peifan
Tuesday, Nov 26 – 7pm

Mark Williams vs Stuart Bingham
Tuesday, Nov 26 – 7pm

Luca Brecel vs Jak Jones
Monday, Nov 25 – 7pm

Gary Wilson vs Michael Holt
Monday, Nov 25 – 7pm

Chris Wakelin vs Matthew Selt
Monday, Nov 25 – 1pm

Kyren Wilson vs Stephen Maguire
Monday, Nov 25 – 1pm

Spherical 2 (bo11)

Matches will happen on Wednesday, Nov 27 and Thursday, Nov 28.

Quarter-Finals (bo11)

Matches will happen on Friday, Nov 29.

Semi-Finals (bo11)

Matches will happen on Saturday, Nov 30.

Remaining (bo19)

The match will happen on Sunday, Dec 1.

The way to watch the 2024 UK Championship

There are a number of methods to look at dwell motion of these concerned within the 2024 UK Championship draw. Here’s a full record of worldwide broadcasters:

UK and Eire
BBC
Europe
Eurosport and discovery+
China
CCTV5
Huya.com
CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel
CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin
Hong Kong China
Now TV
Malaysia and Brunei
Astro SuperSport
Thailand
True Imaginative and prescient
Taiwan
Sportcast
Philippines
Premier Sports activities Community
All different territories
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Featured picture credit score: WST