Barbican is just the ticket as fans welcome back the UK Championship finals to York

The World Snooker chairman was convinced to bring the event – second only to the Crucible’s World Championship on the snooker calendar – back to the Barbican following a £2m revamp of the council-owned venue.

After four years of it being held in Telford, Hearn said he was persuaded to bring back the UK Championships after being impressed by the desire of York city officials and snooker fans for a return to the Barbican.

“It’s a time within the snooker world where there are a lot of changes going on, a lot more events, activities and prize money,” said Hearn. “We also wanted to take a re-look at all the venues we use. Are we in the right place, is this where we can maximise our crowds?

“We decided that we had a successful time in York before, the council have spent a lot of money reinventing their venue. It has turned into what is now one of the best venues, we think, in the country.

“But most important was the enthusiasm of the people in York, and the administrators up there, that wanted to get us back. We were impressed by that more than anything else.

“We thought we would take the quantum leap and I have to say it’s been 100 per cent justified. We have taken more money at the box office in York than we have ever taken in the history of the UK Championships. That is great news, the crowds are looking good, tickets are selling constantly.

“There’s still tickets available but when we look at any business, you look at how you can maximise your revenue and the fact the crowds are great adds to the excitement and atmosphere.

“The players like it when there’s a big crowd rather than empty seats and so far York has ticked all the boxes.”

Snooker officials have changed the format of the UK Championship to maximise TV exposure and Hearn knows the players are looking forward to York after a hectic 12 months on snooker’s road trip.

“This is a major event, £600,000 prize money, without doubt the second biggest event behind the World Championship and for the players who have been dashing themselves all over the world earning ranking points and prize money, it’s rather nice to come to, what traditionalists would call, a proper event,” he said.

“The first round has been cut to best-of-11 frames, from best-of-17, which means every match will be on television.

“It’s coming up to the end of the year for the snooker players, and it’s been a very long and arduous year. They have been to Brazil, Australia, all across Asia, right through Europe and Eastern Europe.”

Hearn said he believed while the players would enjoy the revamped Barbican facilities, the spin-offs for the city would mean a raised profile through worldwide television coverage and a boost to the local economy.

“What people have got to understand is the difference it makes to an area,” he said. “It’s not just the TV exposure showing York all around the world – which is good for business – but just the actual nuts and bolts of people visiting the town in December, perhaps a time when there aren’t that many people about.

“The increase in spend in hotels, bars and restaurants – people use local transport and taxis – all of this in these difficult times – are a major plus to any area and justify having a major sporting event there. This is for nine days, so it’s not just a one-off.

“It’s not going to change the world, but it will make a tangible difference to the profile of York around the world and to local businesses, who are looking to get as much turnover as they can.”

Six-times world and six-times UK champion Steve Davis is looking forward to meeting Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round of the UK Championship.

Veteran Davis beat Andrew Higginson in the qualifiers to set up a showpiece clash with O’Sullivan in York.

Davis enjoyed breaks of 52 and 63 in a comfortable win over Higginson to set up his meeting with fellow Essex cueman O’Sullivan at the venue on Sunday, December 4 (afternoon session).

Davis said: “You can’t ask for more than a match against Ronnie at the UK. It’s what we play for.

“It was nervy and horrible in the qualifier, I was all over the place, but Andrew was even worse. You just want to get to the venue. It’s enjoyable grafting away and I don’t get upset when I’m playing rubbish stuff.

“When I first dropped into the qualifiers, I just got stuck in and didn’t say ‘I’m not supposed to be here’ – and I think Stephen (Hendry) will be the same.

“He’s got nothing to worry about as long as he’s optimistic and get’s his attitude right. He’s bound to win some and lose some.”

Tickets for the UK Championship at York Barbican, December 3-11, are on sale now. For details call 0844 854 2757 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets