Steeped in historical past, the UK Championship is the third-oldest skilled event on the snooker calendar.

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 under gamers from or with everlasting residency within the UK, it in the end turned a rating occasion open to the entire circuit in 1984.

Here’s a rundown of all the UK Championship snooker finals in its lengthy and illustrious historical past.

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1977
Patsy Fagan 12-9 Doug Mountjoy

The inaugural UK Championship was, considerably satirically, gained by an Irishman with Patsy Fagan beating Doug Mountjoy within the last.

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 towards David Taylor.

This version of the UK Championship was staged on the Preston Guild Corridor, a venue that may turn out to be the event’s everlasting house for 20 years.

1979
John Virgo 14-13 Terry Griffiths

The 1979 last proved to be a memorable affair for a lot 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 through the last frames, nonetheless, 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 turn out 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 last 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 exhilarating battle, 16-15.

1983
Alex Higgins 16-15 Steve Davis

An identical 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 body of the ultimate earlier than mounting a exceptional 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 stored 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 unique 12 months however an analogous 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 may have given him a 14-8 benefit.

1986
Steve Davis 16-7 Neal Fould

Three in a row for Davis, with Neal Foulds a powerless sufferer on the other facet of the desk.

This version is maybe 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 Steve Davis

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 high 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 analogous final result, albeit it was a tighter affair than the 12 months beforehand.

Hendry gained the final two frames to disclaim Davis a document seventh UK crown in a decider.

1991
John Parrott 16-13 Jimmy White

Having already crushed the Whirlwind within the 1991 World Championship last, John Parrott made it a pleasant double on the UKs.

White beat defending champion Hendry within the semi-finals however fell brief within the last, dropping 16-13 to Liverpool’s Parrott.

1992
Jimmy White 16-9 John Parrott

Twelve months on and White received 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 last.

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 last.

Towards Ken Doherty, Hendry compiled seven century breaks in one of the vital legendary shows of all time.

1995
Stephen Hendry 10-3 Peter Ebdon

Solely a brace of tons from Hendry on this last however an analogous final result, as he thrashed Peter Ebdon 10-3.

The Scot made a uncommon 146 break within the last 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 last, O’Sullivan and Hendry met once more with silverware on the road in 1997.

The end 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.

An in depth all-Welsh title decider went the way in which of Mark Williams, and the end result could be the identical on the World Championship last later that very same season.

2000
John Higgins 10-4 Mark Williams

By the flip of the millennium, Williams had turn out to be essentially the most dominant power within the sport.

However he was powerless to forestall Higgins from successful the 2000 last, 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 last.

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 last 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 popularity as the most effective 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 last.

2004
Stephen Maguire 10-1 David Grey

When Stephen Maguire destroyed the sphere on the 2004 UK Championship, many believed he would turn out to be the game’s latest star.

It didn’t fairly work out that means, 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 turning 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 towards Hendry in the midst of the sixth body.

2007
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-2 Stephen Maguire

O’Sullivan was again to his good finest in 2007, although, because the occasion moved to Telford.

After reaching the ultimate by compiling a 147 break within the deciding body towards 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 last 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 an in depth last.

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 principally 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 last.

This version boasted an incredible 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 last to Selby that very same 12 months.

O’Sullivan sat and watched as a charging Trump fought again from 9-4 right down to power 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 towards Liang, turning into the primary participant to perform the feat in a Triple Crown last.

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, nonetheless, by beating Shaun Murphy within the last.

In doing so, the Englishman matched Steve Davis’ longstanding document of six UK titles.

2018
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Mark Allen

That document was duly damaged in 2018, with O’Sullivan efficiently defending the crown courtesy of a 10-6 victory towards Mark Allen.

This success additionally represented O’Sullivan’s nineteenth within the Triple Crown collection, eclipsing Stephen Hendry’s tally of 18.

2019
Ding Junhui 10-6 Stephen Maguire

An sudden 2019 last encounter pitted a resurgent Ding Junhui towards a resurgent Stephen Maguire.

Few anticipated the pair to problem for the honours, however they served up an entertaining last – 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 Enviornment in Milton Keynes on account of a worldwide pandemic, the 2020 UK Championship had a really totally 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 large pleasure surrounding the emergence of two younger stars.

Zhao Xintong downed Luca Brecel 10-5 within the last, though the previous’s popularity took a extreme hit not lengthy after amid match-fixing allegations.

2022
Mark Allen 10-7 Ding Junhui

Main 6-1, it seemed 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 super style by successful 9 of the remaining ten frames to disclaim the Chinese language cuiest.

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The forty seventh UK Championship in snooker historical past takes place from November 25 to December 3, 2023. Extra particulars on the event might be discovered right here.

Featured picture credit score: WST