2024 UK Snooker Championship: tournament live blog - news, results, stories as they happen

Defending and record eight-time UK Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is out of this year's tournament during the opening session in York as he is defeated by Barry Hawkins, 6-4.

O'Sullivan looked sharp before the mid-session interval; compiling a 128 total clearance with his first visit to the table in frame one, and registering a 114 in frame four to go into the break 3-1 ahead.

Having seen Hawkins take frame five on resumption, O'Sullivan - the youngest and oldest winner of the UK Championship title - re-established a two-frame cushion with frame six.

However, from there on in it was pretty much the Hawkins show, as the four-time ranking event champion played brilliantly, scoring breaks of 73, 75 and 88 in a sizzling three-frame burst to move 5-4 up and on the hill.

The world number 20 got in first in frame ten but broke down on an effort of 60. However, O'Sullivan could not capitalise, and when he missed a tricky red near a side cushion, Hawkins stepped up to complete the task and record a rare personal victory over The Rocket.

A huge win for Hawkins who is trying to get back into the world's top 16 and secure a place at the Masters in January, he'll face either Xiao Guodong or David Gilbert in the last 16 next week.

For O'Sullivan, he has yet to make a tournament final this season.

Number nine seed Shaun Muprhy squeezed through to the second round in York as he denied Zhao Xintong with a 6-5 win.

An intriguing contest between two former UK Champions, it was 2008 victor Murphy who struck first, pinching the opening frame on the final black having been far behind.

The career Triple Crown winner then crafted breaks of 98 and 76 as he doubled and then tripled his lead, although Zhao countered in the fourth frame to get on the board and go into the mid-session having reduced his deficit to two.

On resumption, 2021 UK title winner Zhao continued to gain momentum as he took frames five and six to level up at 3-3.

Murphy twice went back in front, although both times Zhao responded to square proceedings up, depositing frame ten to take the match all the way to a deciding frame.

However, Murphy was not to be denied as he came through the 11th and final frame to set up a round two date with either Ding Junhui or Robert Milkins.

David Gilbert advances to round two here in York following a 6-4 victory over number 16 seed Xiao Guodong.

Gilbert took the opening frame of the night (54 break), although Wuhan Open Champion Xiao claimed the next two to move 2-1 up (66).

Former Championship League Ranking Event winner Gilbert then made breaks of 53, 72 and 98 in a three-frame burst to go 4-2 ahead, but Xiao left his opponent pointless in the next two frames as efforts of 70 and 56 helped him to level the tie at 4-4.

However, world number 22 Gilbert - who won two qualifying matches in Leicester earlier this week to get here - won the next two frames (runs of 53 and 63) to set up a last 16 date with Barry Hawkins, who conquered defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in Saturday's afternoon session.

Defeat for Xiao means he will slip outside of the world's top 16 following the conclusion of this event and won't be in line for an invite for a maiden Masters appearance at the Alexandra Palace in January.

Three-time UK Champion Ding Junhui battled back from two down with three to play to pip Robert Milkins, 6-5, in Saturday's final outcome to set up a last 16 tie with Shaun Murphy next week.

Chinese superstar Ding came into the event having recently ended a near five-year wait for a ranking title at the International Championship. The Barbican Centre is arguably his favourite venue; he has also reached the final here in each of the last two years.

However, Ding was out-of-sorts for a lot of the tie, despite managing to lead 3-2 earlier on.

Milkins - who has endured a rotten season, so far - strung together the next three frames to move on the hill at 5-3 up - a streak that was highlighted by an effort of 130 in frame seven.

Ding, though, stepped it up a gear and produced better snooker when he needed to, as contributions of 57 and 135 helped him force a deciding frame.

A 63 break put Ding on the brink of victory in frame 11 before he broke down, and after some edginess crept back into his game, Milkins later had the opportunity to counter. But a missed yellow from the qualifier allowed Ding back to the table, and this time The Dragon made sure to complete the task.

Number 12 seed Ali Carter is the next player through to the last 16, as he defeats Ryan Day, 6-4, during Sunday's afternoon session at the Barbican Centre.

Carter (75 break - frame one) led 3-1 at the mid-session interval, but runs of 70 and 60 in the two frames following resumption helped Day level the tie at 3-3.

A 99 aided Carter to go back in front, and he went to the hill first when depositing frame eight.

Qualifier Day stuck around as he took frame nine (52) to close the gap, but Carter crossed the line in the next to reach the last 16 of the UK Championship for the first time since 2012 when he was a semi-finalist.

Since winning the Championship League - the sixth ranking event title of his career - at the start of the season, it has been a largely frustrating campaign for Carter, but by winning his opening match here he is guaranteed at least £15,000 worth of ranking points.

2022 UK Champion Mark Allen showed his resilience when the going got tough, as he bested young Welshman Jackson Page, 6-4, on the main table on Sunday afternoon.

Allen made just one half-century break (56) during the contest - in frame two - and had to come from 3-2 behind after Page constructed efforts of 56 and 76 in frames four and five respectively.

A three-frame winning streak put the former world number one on the brink of progression at 5-3 up, but a tenacious Page sank a fantastic long-distance yellow in frame nine and cleared to win it on the final black and keep his hopes alive.

Frame ten was also in the balance as it went down to the colours, but it was Allen who cleared from green to black - sinking a superb brown under pressure - to go through.

It is a big tournament for Allen, as he is defending the £250,000 he won here two years ago from his world ranking total.

Si Jiahui or Wu Yize will be Allen's next test at the Barbican.

Jack Lisowski put together one of his best displays on TV, as he won six of the final seven frames to eliminate two-time UK Champion Mark Selby, 6-4, during Sunday's evening session in York.

Number five seed Selby - who won the British Open a few weeks ago - compiled breaks of 119, 59 and 136 in a blistering start as he took firm control and went 3-0 up.

However, Lisowski got on the board just before the mid-session interval (55 break), before efforts of 63 and 100 in frames five and six respectively helped him draw level at 3-3.

A 61 aided four-time World Champion to go back in front, but Lisowski squared up again at 4-4 with a superb counter clearance of 70 (to and including the final pink) when he was 55 points down.

The qualifier then notched up the next two frames (61 - frame 9) to complete a very pleasing night's work and set up a last 16 tie with Ali Carter.

COULD, this tournament finally be Lisowski's big breakthrough?

Over on the other table, another seed went out as Si Jiahui was eliminated by fellow Chinese cueist Wu Yize.

In a meeting of two of snooker's most exciting young talents, Wu - who reached his maiden ranking event final at the English Open a couple of months ago - went 3-0 up (56 break - frame one) before Si claimed four of the next six frames along with efforts of 128 and 54 to close the gap to just one at 5-4 behind.

However, 21-year-old Wu fashioned a decisive run of 52 in frame 10 to set up a meeting with 2022 UK Champion Mark Allen in round two.

World Champion Kyren Wilson keeps alive his hopes of becoming only the seventh player to win World and UK titles within the same calendar year as he crushes Stephen Maguire, 6-0, during Monday's afternoon session - the first whitewash this year in York.

Far from a vintage Wilson display, but the world number two - who has claimed two ranking titles this season already - went to the mid-session interval 4-0 up without registering a half-century break.

On resumption, Wilson had his scoring shoes on as efforts of 71 and 86 helped him complete a clean sweep.

A nightmare match for 2004 UK Champion Maguire who finished with a pot success rate of just 57%.

It's either Chris Wakelin or Matthew Selt up next for Wilson in the last 16.

Playing his first professional match as a top 16 player, recent International Championship finalist Chris Wakelin recovered from 3-1 down to defeat qualifier Matthew Selt, 6-4.

In a contest with only two breaks over 50 - 75 from Wakelin in frame three and a 68 from Selt in frame four - number 15 seed Wakelin took five of the last six frames to set up a round two date with World Champion Kyren Wilson.

A huge victory for Englishman Wakelin who is now guaranteed ranking points from the event, thus strengthening his place inside the world's elite bracket and likelihood of making a maiden Masters appearance at the Alexandra Palace in January.

World number 98 Michael Holt is into the last 16 after brushing aside number 10 seed Gary Wilson, 6-1.

Holt has now won five consecutive matches in this year’s competition having started his campaign in the first qualifying round in Leicester.

A quarter-finalist in this event in 1999, 46-year-old Holt won five frames in-a-row from 1-1, registering breaks of 69 and 95 along the way.

Another seed is eliminated from this year's competition in the opening round as world number 17 Jak Jones pips 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel, 6-5.

Having gone one down early on, Jones took frames two and three (96 break - frame three) to go in front. Brecel won the next three, though; a run of 94 putting him 4-2 ahead.

Jones reduced the gap (61) but Brecel put himself on the hill at 5-3 with a 74. However, determined Jones clung on in, only allowing his opponent to score one point as he forced a decider.

Brecel got in first in the 11th and final frame, and took a positive approach. But when he broke down whilst 42 points ahead, Jones later stepped in for an ultimately crucial and classy contribution of 66 which left the number seven seed needing penalty points.

Victory for Jones keeps his hopes alive of making a maiden Masters appearance in January at the Alexandra Palace.

John Higgins recorded the second whitewash of the main venue stages of this year’s UK Championship as he coasted past qualifier He Guoqiang, 6-0, on Tuesday afternoon at the Barbican Centre.

Higgins briefly slipped outside of the world’s top 16 rankings earlier this season, but has battled back and is now aiming for his first Triple Crown trophy in over 13-and-a-half years.

The great Scot crafted breaks of 110, 92, 72 and 64 during his clean sweep over last season’s Rookie of the Year award winner on the World Snooker Tour.

Three-time UK Champion Higgins has not appeared in the semi-finals of this event since last winning it in 2010.

World number one Judd Trump recovered from a 3-1 mid-session interval deficit to Neil Robertson by winning five successive frames for a 6-3 victory.

Arguably the standout tie of the opening round in York failed to deliver during a disjointed and protracted opening spell, but three-time UK Champion Robertson did compile a break of 107 - the first effort of note - to go 3-1 up.

On resumption, Trump halved his arrears before runs of 73, 126 and 67 got him into a flow and on the hill first at 5-3 up.

Winner of this title in 2011, Trump completed the job in the next frame to set up a very tasty round two date with John Higgins on Thursday.

Huge congratulations to China’s Zhang Anda who has made the third maximum 147 break of his professional career during the fourth frame of his round one match against fellow countryman Lei Peifan.

It is the sixth 147 of the 2024/25 season and the 208th overall in professional snooker competition.

Zhang surpasses Zhao Xintong’s effort of 146 he made earlier in the event and is now in line for the £15,000 highest break bonus prize.

If Zhang makes another 147 this season in either this event, the Masters or the World Championship, he is set to pick up a payday of £147,000. All is explained here.

Number 11 seed Zhang Anda advances to the last 16 in York with a 6-3 victory over fellow Chinese cueist Lei Peifan.

Qualifier Lei - who navigated all four rounds of qualifying in Leicester - went 2-0 ahead. However, former International Championship winner Zhang won six of the next seven frames for victory.

Zhang made the third maximum 147 break of his career in frame four, and also had efforts of 75 and 79 twice.

The final round one result to be confirmed in York, and it’s the best recovery we have seen, so far, as Stuart Bingham comes back from three down with four to play to dismiss Mark Williams, 6-5.

Things were looking very bleak for former World and Masters champion Bingham as he went 5-2 down to recent Champion of Champions winner Williams.

However, Bingham - aided somewhat by his opponent - dug in and battled back, making breaks of 57, 79 and 82 in a trio of winning frames to force a decider which he also took for a big turnaround win

Bingham - who navigated two qualifying matches to get here - sets up a last 16 tie with Zhang Anda and remains on course to win all three of snooker's biggest titles.

The round of 16 at this year's UK Championship began with a bang as Barry Hawkins and Shaun Murphy both came through deciding frame finishes.

Hawkins - who eliminated reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in round one - started his match against David Gilbert with a break of 144.

However, that was the only time Hawkins led in frames until the end, as Gilbert - who registered runs of 100 and 102 along the way - lead by a single frame four times but was pegged back on each occasion.

And it was four-time ranking event champion Hawkins who got back in front when it mattered most to squeeze through. The result provisionally puts him back into the world's top 16 following this event and in line for a Masters spot - although that could all change still.

On the main feature table, Murphy resisted a comeback from Ding Junhui to progress.

Three-time UK Champion Ding began in style with an effort of 129.

From there, both players took batches of frames and traded the lead several times. Whilst the middle spell of the contest was disjointed, Murphy compiled a 135 in frame eight, and Ding struck a 107 and 126 in the following two frames to force it all the way.

2008 UK Champion Murphy got in first in the decider after sinking a fantastic long red and proceeded to make a 65 (a potential 147 attempt) before falling out of position.

Later on, though, when Ding left on a red after a safety shot, Murphy came to the table and completed the task.

Jack Lisowski follows up his brilliant victory over Mark Selby in round one by eliminating another seed, this time Ali Carter, 6-4.

A semi-finalist here two years ago, Lisowski - who had to win two qualifying matches to reach these televised stages - struck breaks of 85, 63, 106, 97 and 52 during his win.

Carter rallied from 5-2 down, but world number 21 Lisowski goes through, and also keeps alive his hopes of breaking back into the top 16 after this event, and therefore earn an invite to the Masters in January.