Ronnie O’Sullivan’s notoriously difficult season continued its downward spiral as he faced an unexpected early exit at the hands of Barry Hawkins during the opening round of his UK Championship title defense in York.
The illustrious O’Sullivan, recognized as the biggest name in snooker history, has alarmingly missed out on reaching any tournament finals thus far this season, including disappointingly bowing out in the semi-finals at both the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Shanghai Masters.
At 48, the seasoned veteran was eager to kickstart a revival in his performance as he eyes a strong showing ahead of the prestigious World Championship next spring. However, qualifier Hawkins thwarted those ambitions by overcoming O’Sullivan with a close score of 6-4 in what marked the first Triple Crown event of the current snooker season.
When is the snooker UK Championship this year?
The main tournament is scheduled to take place from Saturday, November 23 to Sunday, December 1, offering fans an exciting week of top-tier snooker.
Who is playing at the UK Championship?
Since 2022, the UK Championship has employed a format akin to that of the World Championship. The top 16 seeds globally automatically secure their spots in the tournament, which includes some of the most prominent names in the sport such as:
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- Kyren Wilson (ENG)
- Judd Trump (ENG)
- Mark Allen (NIR)
- Mark Selby (ENG)
- Mark Williams (WAL)
- Luca Brecel (BEL)
- Ding Junhui (CHN)
- Shaun Murphy (ENG)
- Gary Wilson (ENG)
- Zhang Anda (CHN)
- Ali Carter (ENG)
- Si Jiahui (CHN)
- John Higgins (SCO)
- Chris Wakelin (ENG)
- Xiao Guodong (CHN)
Each of the 16 seeded players will compete against a qualifier in the first round, culminating in a straightforward round-of-32 elimination format.
Qualifying format explained
Qualifying rounds took place from November 16-21 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, where the following players secured one of the 16 coveted spots in the tournament (nationality and current ranking/seed in brackets):
- Jak Jones (WAL, 17)
- Stephen Maguire (SCO, 33)
- Stuart Bingham (ENG, 25)
- Jackson Page (WAL, 41)
- Jack Lisowski (ENG, 21)
- Ryan Day (WAL, 28)
- Wu Yize (CHN, 29)
- Barry Hawkins (ENG, 20)
- Lei Peifan (CHN, 83)
- Matthew Selt (ENG, 35)
- Zhao Xintong (CHN, amateur)
- David Gilbert (ENG, 22)
- Robert Milkins (ENG, 23)
- He Guoqiang (CHN, 58)
- Michael Holt (ENG, 95)
- Neil Robertson (AUS, 18)
The qualifiers comprised a total of four rounds, with those seeded players ranked just outside the top 16 entering the later stages, alongside amateur players battling for a place throughout all four qualifying rounds.
Are there any amateurs at the 2024 UK Championship?
The amateur player Zhao Xintong notably won the 2021 edition of this very tournament, showcasing his credentials far surpassing his current standing in this year’s event.
Did the women’s world champion qualify for the UK Championship?
Bai Yulu from China, the reigning women’s world snooker champion, valiantly made it to the final qualifying round before enduring a 6-1 defeat against former World Championship quarter-finalist Jack Lisowski.
The 21-year-old Yulu reflected on the experience: “I felt relaxed before the match, but once I was out there I felt tension. I have gained a lot of experience of these occasions this week, it gives me more confidence.”
She added, “I can see some weaknesses in my game which I will work on. I need to get more good results in order to influence more girls to play snooker.”
Lisowski commended his opponent’s performance, stating: “Bai had an incredible run and that storyline was in the back of my head so I had to keep my concentration.”
Snooker UK Championship: Main draw, results, schedule
Nov. 23-26: First round (Best of 11 frames)
(Matches are arranged in order of bracket. The winner of the first match in this order will advance to face the winner of the second in the subsequent round, continuing in this format)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 Barry Hawkins
- Ziao Guodong 4-6 David Gilbert
- Shaun Murphy 6-5 Zhao Xintong
- Ding Junhui vs. Robert Milkins
- Mark Selby vs. Jack Lisowski
- Ali Carter vs. Ryan Day
- Si Jiahui vs. Wu Yize
- Mark Allen vs. Jackson Page
- Judd Trump vs. Neil Robertson
- John Higgins vs. He Guoqiang
- Zhang Anda vs. Lei Peifan
- Mark Williams vs. Stuart Bingham
- Luca Brecel vs. Jak Jones
- Gary Wilson vs. Michael Holt
- Chris Wakelin vs. Matthew Selt
- Kyren Wilson vs. Stephen Maguire
Nov. 27: Second round (Best of 11 frames)
Nov. 28: Quarter-finals (Best of 11 frames)
Nov. 29: Semi-finals (Best of 11 frames)
Dec. 1: Final (Best of 19 frames)
MORE: UK Championship prize money, winner’s purse and bonuses
Snooker UK Championship: List of previous winners
Ronnie O’Sullivan, the defending champion heading into the 2024 tournament, holds the distinguished record as the all-time leader in UK Championship victories, having claimed a remarkable eight titles.
He stands ahead of fellow legend Steve Davis, who has won six titles to his name. John Higgins, Ding Junhui, and Neil Robertson, currently active players, each hold three titles but remain significantly behind O’Sullivan’s illustrious tally.
What insights can Mark Thompson provide on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s performance and challenges this season?
**Interview with Snooker Expert, Mark Thompson**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Mark! The UK Championship is in full swing, and we’ve just witnessed Ronnie O’Sullivan’s surprising exit against Barry Hawkins. What are your thoughts on O’Sullivan’s performance this season?
**Mark Thompson:** Thanks for having me! It’s been quite a challenging season for Ronnie. As a defending champion, he had high expectations, but unfortunately, he just hasn’t found his rhythm yet. Losing 6-4 to Hawkins in the first round is a disappointment, especially considering his illustrious career and status in the sport.
**Interviewer:** O’Sullivan has struggled to reach any finals this season, which is unusual for him. Do you think age is playing a role in his performance this year?
**Mark Thompson:** It’s possible. At 48, while he still showcases incredible talent, the physical and mental demands of the sport can take their toll. Of course, O’Sullivan has defied age for most of his career, but the competition gets tougher every year, and it’s not uncommon for even the greats to experience slumps in form.
**Interviewer:** With Hawkins advancing, what does this mean for the rest of the tournament?
**Mark Thompson:** For Hawkins, it’s a massive confidence boost. He’s always been a solid player, but this victory could reignite his career at a critical time. His win serves as a reminder for other players that anything can happen in snooker, and it opens the door for more fresh faces to make their mark in the later rounds.
**Interviewer:** Let’s touch on the qualifiers. Bai Yulu made an impressive run in the qualifiers but unfortunately fell short against Jack Lisowski. What does this say about the rising talent in women’s snooker?
**Mark Thompson:** Bai Yulu’s journey shows that women’s snooker is progressing, and we have incredible talent emerging. Her performance against Lisowski was commendable, and although she faced defeat, it’s experiences like these that contribute to a player’s growth. She has the potential to inspire more girls to pursue snooker.
**Interviewer:** what should fans look out for as the tournament progresses?
**Mark Thompson:** Fans should keep an eye on the younger players and qualifiers who might be looking to make a splash, just like Hawkins. The competition is fierce, and it’s always thrilling to witness potential upsets during tournament play. Every match can shift the dynamics, and that’s what makes snooker so exciting!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mark! It’s always a pleasure to get your insights on the snooker world.
**Mark Thompson:** My pleasure! Looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
