The UK Championship remains one of snooker’s most prestigious Triple Crown events, and its latest staging in York once again brought together the sport’s biggest names, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, Mark Williams and John Higgins
. Played at the Barbican Centre, the tournament delivered drama from the opening round through to the final.
The competition followed its traditional knockout format, beginning with the last 32 and progressing through the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. Early rounds saw a number of shocks and standout performances. Most notably, O’Sullivan suffered a surprise first-round exit, losing 6–4 to Zhou Yuelong, underlining the unpredictable nature of the event.
Other top stars progressed more smoothly. Trump showed strong form in the early rounds, defeating Si Jiahui and later overcoming Ding Junhui 6–2 in the quarter-finals. Neil Robertson also impressed, beating Pang Junxu before reaching the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Mark Williams and John Higgins both exited before the latter stages, highlighting the depth of competition across the field.
The last-16 stage produced several high-quality encounters. Shaun Murphy edged Higgins in a tight 6–5 contest, while Zhang Anda knocked out reigning world champion Zhao Xintong. Barry Hawkins delivered a dominant whitewash win over Elliot Slessor, and Ding narrowly defeated Scott Donaldson in another deciding-frame thriller.
As the tournament reached the semi-finals, the standard rose even further. Trump defeated Robertson 6–3 to book his place in the final, continuing his consistent performances in York. In the other semi-final, Mark Selby overcame Murphy by the same scoreline, setting up a high-profile final between two of the game’s most successful players.
The final proved to be a fitting climax. Selby held his nerve in a closely fought match to defeat Trump 10–8 and claim the UK Championship title. The victory reinforced Selby’s reputation as one of the toughest competitors in snooker, particularly in long-format matches, while Trump once again demonstrated his consistency at the top level despite falling just short.
Overall, the tournament showcased both established champions and emerging talents, with shocks, high breaks and dramatic finishes throughout the schedule. While big names like O’Sullivan and Higgins exited earlier than expected, the event once again highlighted why the UK Championship remains a cornerstone of the snooker calendar, delivering world-class acti
on in York.
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