We’ve got one of the biggest snooker events of the year starting at the weekend, with the UK Championship in York. We’ve previewed the tournament and picked out two outright bets we like the look of. We’ll also have daily tips throughout the tournament, so bookmark the page for your home of snooker betting.
UK Snooker Championship Tips
York. A battleground for centuries.
It still is. ⚔️
The 2022 @CazooUK UK Championship. Starts November 12 on BBC & Eurosport 🇬🇧 #CazooUKChampionship pic.twitter.com/m1rkVQeQEY
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) November 3, 2022
The snooker returns to terrestrial TV this week, with the UK Championship being shown live on BBC. The tournament will have an additional viewing boost, with the news that legend of the game, Jimmy White, has qualified at the age of 60. He clinched his place with four straight victories at Ponds Forge in Sheffield and became the first man of 60+ to reach the last 32 of a ranking event since Eddie Charlton in 1993.
There is a three way tie at the top of the betting, with Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson all priced at 9/2. Mark Selby (8/1) and three-time winner John Higgins (12/1) are next and White is available at 500/1, if you think he can roll back the years and pick up his first UK Championship since 1992.
Brilliant White 🙌@jimmywhite147 advances into the 2022 Cazoo UK Championship, easing past Dominic Dale in the last round of qualifying! #CazooUKChampionship | @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/IcwY4F8wEX
— Eurosport (@eurosport) November 9, 2022
History and format
The UK Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the snooker calendar and forms part of the Triple Crown, alongside the World Championship and the Masters.
It dates back to 1977, where Patsy Fagan beat Doug Mountjoy and claimed the £2,000 first prize. The money on offer this week is a little bit more impressive!
Stage Prize
Last 112 £2,500
Last 80 £5,000
Last 48 £7,500
Last 32 £10,000
Last 16 £15,000
Quarter final £25,000
Semi final £50,000
Runner-up £100,000
Winner £250,000
High Break £15,000
The tournament was held at the Guildhall in Preston from 1978-1997 and then moved to The Barbican in York in 2001, where it has been held every year since, apart from four years in Telford and one in Milton Keynes.
The defending champion is Chinese Zhao Xintong who beat Luca Brecel of Belgium in the final. The trophy has been won seven times by Englishman Ronnie O’Sullivan, six times by his fellow countryman Steve Davis and five times by Scot Stephen Hendry.
Judd Trump to win – 9/2
Trump last won this title back in 2011 but has featured in the final twice since, in 2014 and 2020. The 33-year-old has had a quiet couple of years by his standards but burst back into form last week when losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Champion of Champions event.
Trump smashed in a superb 147 during the final (which controversially wasn’t congratulated by O’Sullivan), yet ultimately lost to the better man 10-6.
The Englishman looks to have the better side of the draw, however and if he can get past Mark Selby again, like he did last week, then he can go all the way to the final.
Luca Brecel each way (1/2 2 places) – 40/1
Belgian Brecel has a tough looking draw, facing Lyu Haotian in the first round before potentially facing John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Trump.
It looks a tough ask but the 27-year-old is improving rapidly and is up to no 11 in the world. He made two finals last year, winning the Scottish Open and losing here and has carried that form into this season, winning the opening event of the year, the Championship League. Don’t be surprised if the Belgian Bullet goes deep again this week.
