Exclusive: UK Championship is set to return to York Barbican next year

Yesterday’s climax, which saw the sport’s poster boy Judd Trump defeat Mark Allen 10-8 in a tense final, completed nine days of captivating snooker at York which vindicated World Snooker’s decision to return to the venue after several years staging the tournament in Telford.

The second biggest ranking tournament on the snooker calendar – it lies only behind the World Championship at the Crucible, Sheffield in terms of prestige – the UK finals broke box-office records for pre-tournament ticket sales, such was the demand to see snooker back at the 650-seater Barbican, the venue having enjoyed a £2m revamp.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn announced in May that the UK Championship would return to York for 2011 but no long-term commitment was made.

But after the success of the last week in the historic city, officials are confident of a 2012 return.

“We are absolutely delighted with our week at York,” said World Snooker’s Ivan Hirschowitz.

“With this event, we never commit until after the tournament when we can sit down looking at all the figures, but the way that it has gone this week certainly bodes very well for the future of this event in York.

“Before the event, we had set a new record for pre-event ticket sales and I think it’s gone even better than expected during the tournament as well.

“People have been buying tickets on the day, too.

“Virtually every day, if it’s not been packed out there have been good crowds and a really good atmosphere.

“All the players have talked about how much they have enjoyed the atmosphere and the venue as well.

“It feels like the tournament has come home, back to its spiritual home.”

The demand for yesterday’s final meant extra balcony tickets were put on sale and Hirschowitz said this was testament to the support snooker enjoys in Yorkshire.

“The final sold out for the main arena, so we had to release more tickets for the balcony area,” he said. “Overall, we have been thrilled with the sales.

“The whole of Yorkshire is a real hot-bed for snooker.

“The county has the two biggest tournaments in snooker, the Yorkshire public love their snooker and that has been borne out this week.”

One of the main changes at York this season has seen the switch to just two tables, and no partition between the action so fans and players can see what’s happening on the adjoining table.

“The two-table format has worked really well,” said Hirschowitz. “For the fans it’s brilliant. It doesn’t matter where you are sat in the arena, you can see what it is happening on both tables.”

Traditionalists can rest easy, though, as Hirschowitz said there were no plans to scrap the centre screen at the World Championship in April.

“I think it’s part of the Crucible ambience, the screen coming up and down,” he said. “Plus the arena there is so small, if you lost that screen it would be too distracting for players, just a few feet away from the other table.”