UK Championship Snooker 2024: Draw, results, format, prize money, schedule, how to watch

One of the longest-running competitions and most prestigious titles in the sport, the UK Championship has featured on the professional snooker circuit every year since 1977, and is part of the fabled Triple Crown Series alongside the Masters and the World Championship.

Carrying a total prize fund of over £1.2 million, the 2024 UK Championship will be the ninth ranking event of the 2024/25 World Snooker Tour season.

The reigning and defending champion is Ronnie O'Sullivan, who claimed a record-extending eighth UK crown last year here when he defeated Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final.

All professional tour card holders were eligible to enter the 2024 UK Championship, and several amateur players were invited to the qualifying rounds due to their performances in major events on the sport's second tier.

For further historical information on the UK Snooker Championship, please visit our potted history page here.

What is the format for the 2024 UK Snooker Championship and how does the draw work?

The 2024 UK Championship uses a tiered draw format, meaning contestants begin their campaigns in different rounds depending on their current world ranking position.

In total, 144 players started out the tournament, although following the four qualifying rounds in Leicester, only 32 remain and are set to feature for the main venue and televised stages in York.

The 32-player main draw consists of the world’s top 16 ranked players who automatically went through to the Barbican and are seeded there, being randomly drawn against the 16 qualifiers in round one. This draw was conducted live during online livestream coverage of the final qualifying round at the Mattioli Arena.

The positions of the seeds in the draw are fixed, with the number one seed at the top and number two seed at the bottom. If these seeds all win their opening matches in York, the last 16 of the event would see 1 v 16, 2 v 15, 3 v 14 etc.

All matches in all rounds at the 2024 UK Championship up to and including the semi-finals are the best of 11 frames with a scheduled mid-session interval after frame four.

The 2024 UK Championship final on Sunday 1st December will be the best-of-19 frames played across afternoon and evening sessions.

Who is playing in the 2024 UK Snooker Championship in York?

All of the world’s top players are scheduled to compete at the 2024 UK Championship, this includes the entire top 16 from the world rankings who have all entered the event.

Record eight-time UK Champion and current title holder Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to defend the accolade, while world number one Judd Trump aims for a second UK crown, 13 years on from collecting his first.

Reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson has yet to lift this trophy, and the world number two will aim to join a very exclusive club of players who have won World and UK Championships within the same calendar year.

Half of the top 16 seeds who are in the draw have tasted UK Championship glory in the past. As well as O’Sullivan and Trump, Mark Allen, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui and John Higgins have all got their names etched on the famous silverware.

Three former UK Champions successfully qualified for the main draw: Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire and Zhao Xintong. 2021 title victor Zhao is making a sensational return to the scene of his greatest triumph just weeks on from his return to competition after the expiration of his ban due to his part in the Chinese match-fixing scandal.

2024 UK Championship Snooker: Draw and results

What is the tournament schedule for the 2024 UK Snooker Championship?

The main venue stages of the 2024 UK Championship take place across nine days at the Barbican Centre in York.

• Saturday 23rd November to Tuesday 26th November: Round One (two tables in use)
• Wednesday 27th November & Thursday 28th November: Round Two (two tables)
• Friday 29th November: Quarter-Finals (two tables)
• Saturday 30th November: Semi-Finals (one table)
• Sunday 1st November: Final

There are afternoon and evening sessions for every day of the tournament starting at 1pm (13:00GMT) and 7pm (19:00GMT) respectively.

What is the prize money for the 2024 UK Snooker Championship? How much does the winner get?

In total, there is over £1.2 million in prize money to be won across the whole of the 2024 UK Championship, this includes the qualifying rounds away from York.

The champion on Sunday 1st December will pocket the top prize of £250,000.

• Winner: £250,000
• Runner-up: £100,000
• Losing semi-finalists: £50,000 
• Losing quarter-finalists: £25,000
• Losers in the last 16: £15,000 
• Losers in the last 32: £10,000
• Losers in the last 48: £7,500
• Losers in the last 80: £5,000
• Losers in the last 112: £2,500
• Highest break: £15,000
• Total prize fund: £1,205,000

Is there a prize for a maximum 147 break at the 2024 UK Snooker Championship?

There is no single bonus prize for a maximum 147 break made during either the qualifying or main venue rounds of the 2024 UK Snooker Championship, although there is a £15,000 bonus for the highest break.

However, this event counts towards the special £147,000 bonus prize on offer for all players, who can make two 147s across the season in snooker’s four biggest events - the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, UK Championship, Masters and World Championship.

Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham made a 147 during the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters a few months ago, therefore if he makes another during the UK Championship, he will be in line to claim £147,000 for his two feats of perfection.

What is the highest break at the 2024 UK Snooker Championship?

Zhang Anda holds the highest break at the 2024 UK Snooker Championship having made a maximum 147 break during his round one match in York against Lei Peifan.

It was the third 147 of Zhang’s professional career and the 21st 147 in UK Championship history.

The effort surpassed Zhao Xintong’s previous benchmark of 146 which he made in the first qualifying round.

Zhang is in line for the £15,000 highest break bonus prize, and like Saengkham, would be set for a £147,000 payout if he makes another in either this event, the Masters or the World Championship.

How can I watch the 2024 UK Snooker Championship? Television and live stream details:

The BBC will once again be the host broadcaster for the 2024 UK Snooker Championship, providing extensive live coverage throughout the nine days from York both on television and online via the BBC Sport website.

• United Kingdom: BBC, BBCiPlayer, BBC Sport website
• Europe: Europsort, discovery+
• China: CCTV5, Huya.com, CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel, CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin
• Hong Kong China: NowTV
• Malaysia and Brunei: Astro SuperSport
• Thailand: True Vision
• Taiwan: Sportcast
• Philippines: Premier Sports Network
• All other territories: matchroom.live