With the forty ninth UK Championship simply across the nook, it’s the proper time to look again at each remaining within the occasion’s wealthy historical past.
A mainstay on the schedule since 1977, many of the sport’s largest names have etched their names onto the trophy.
What started as a event for less than gamers from the UK or with everlasting residency within the UK, it in the end turned a rating occasion open to the entire circuit in 1984.
Up to date for 2025, right here’s the entire timeline of finals at one in all snooker’s most prestigious tournaments.
1977: Patsy Fagan 12-9 Doug Mountjoy
The inaugural UK Championship was, considerably sarcastically, gained by an Irishman with Patsy Fagan beating Doug Mountjoy within the remaining.
Fagan, a Dubliner residing in London, gained a few deciders to achieve the title-deciding affair the place he duly secured the largest 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 might grow to be the event’s everlasting dwelling for 20 years.
1979: John Virgo 14-13 Terry Griffiths
The 1979 remaining 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 remaining frames, nevertheless, 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 remaining victory in 1981.
Having crushed 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 crushed Griffiths within the final 4, the Northern Irishman misplaced the primary seven frames of the ultimate earlier than mounting a outstanding 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 gasoline to dominate his previous foe and seize the primary UK Championship staged as a rating occasion.
1985: Steve Davis 16-14 Willie Thorne
A special 12 months however an identical final result as Davis gained his fourth UK title with a 16-14 overcome Willie Thorne.
The latter was left to rue an notorious missed blue that might 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 alternative facet of the desk.
This version is probably remembered extra for Alex Higgins’ headbutting of a event 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 successful really feel like a behavior, beat Davis 16-12.
1990: Stephen Hendry 16-15 Steve Davis
The identical protagonists and an identical final result, albeit it was a tighter affair than the 12 months beforehand.
Hendry gained the final two frames to disclaim Davis a report seventh UK crown in a decider.
1991: John Parrott 16-13 Jimmy White
Having already crushed the Whirlwind within the 1991 World Championship remaining, John Parrott made it a pleasant double on the UKs.
White beat defending champion Hendry within the semi-finals however fell brief within the remaining, dropping 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 event, the place he reached the final 32.
1993: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Stephen Hendry
O’Sullivan was to do a lot better on his second try, going all the way in which 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 remaining.
1994: Stephen Hendry 10-5 Ken Doherty
Hendry was to not be denied in 1994, coming by means of a good semi-final with Peter Ebdon earlier than orchestrating an unbelievable show within the remaining.
In opposition to Ken Doherty, Hendry compiled seven century breaks in one of the crucial legendary shows of all time.
1995: Stephen Hendry 10-3 Peter Ebdon
Solely a brace of tons from Hendry on this remaining however an identical final result, as he thrashed Peter Ebdon 10-3.
The Scot made a uncommon 146 break within the remaining 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 successful 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 remaining, 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 event, 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 dropping facet of the ultimate once more a 12 months later.
A detailed all-Welsh title decider went the way in which of Mark Williams, and the result could be the identical on the World Championship remaining 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 drive within the sport.
However he was powerless to forestall Higgins from successful the 2000 remaining, dropping 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 remaining.
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 remaining 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 the perfect 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 remaining.
2004: Stephen Maguire 10-1 David Grey
When Stephen Maguire destroyed the sphere 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 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 remaining 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 remaining.
2010: John Higgins 10-9 Mark Williams
In 2010, Higgins had solely lately returned to the game following a six-month ban for bringing the sport into disrepute.
In search of redemption, he accomplished an unbelievable comeback by successful 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 largely 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 remaining.
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 successful 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 dropping the World Championship remaining to Selby that very same 12 months.
O’Sullivan sat and watched as a charging Trump fought again from 9-4 right down to drive a decider, however the Rocket held on.
2015: Neil Robertson 10-5 Liang Wenbo
Robertson’s overcome 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 remaining.
2016: Mark Selby 10-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
The Selby-Robertson-O’Sullivan stranglehold on the event continued in 2016.
Selby etched his title onto the silverware for a second time with a 10-7 overcome O’Sullivan.
2017: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 Shaun Murphy
O’Sullivan returned to the champion’s enclosure in 2017, nevertheless, by beating Shaun Murphy within the remaining.
In doing so, the Englishman matched Steve Davis’ longstanding report of six UK titles.
2018: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Mark Allen
That report 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 surprising 2019 remaining 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 remaining – 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 worldwide 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 way in which 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 enormous pleasure surrounding the emergence of two younger stars.
Zhao Xintong downed Luca Brecel 10-5 within the remaining, and the pair would every go on to win world titles throughout the subsequent three-and-a-half years.
2022: Mark Allen 10-7 Ding Junhui
Main 6-1, it appeared as if Ding was going to bag a fourth UK crown in what was turning into his favorite event.
However Mark Allen fought again in great style by successful 9 of the remaining ten frames to disclaim the Chinese language cuiest.
2023: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Ding Junhui
Ding returned to achieve a 3rd remaining 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 report tally of titles within the prestigious Triple Crown event to eight.
2024: Judd Trump 10-8 Barry Hawkins
World primary Trump captured his fifth profession Triple Crown title with a hard-fought victory over Barry Hawkins within the 2024 title-deciding showdown.
For Hawkins, defeat meant that the affable Englishman took the undesirable moniker of being the one participant in historical past to have misplaced all three Triple Crown finals with out ever having gained one.
The draw, schedule, and every day information for the 2025 UK Championship will probably be out there on SnookerHQ.com all through the occasion, which runs from November twenty ninth to December seventh.
Featured photograph credit score: WST. Different pictures: WST
