But you’ll have to be as fast as ‘The Rocket’ if you want a ticket – many sessions, including the final weekend, have long sold out for the World Snooker Tour event at York Barbican, Nov 25 to Dec 3.

And little wonder, with a line-up of the best players on the planet, including legendary Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan, current world champ Luca Brecel and defending UK champion Mark Allen.

BUY TICKETS: Prices start at just £22 for available seats visit wst.tv/tickets/2023-uk-championship and for VIP packages click here.

Tickets are sold out for Sat, Nov 25 (all day tickets/afternoon session); Fri, Dec 1 (afternoon session); Sat, Dec 2 (all sessions); Sun, Dec 3 (all sessions).

Fans can still get £10 per day tickets for qualifying rounds taking place this week at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, until November 23 – click here.

Sitting alongside the Masters and the World Championship in the Triple Crown Series, the prestigious MrQ UK Championship will see Northern Ireland's Mark Allen looking to retain his title, with the top 16 seeds to be joined by 16 qualifiers.

He memorably won in 2022 beating Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final having roared back from 6-1 down.

Allen is hoping to keep his career-best season going. He heads into the tournament after a recent win at the World Grand Prix and on the back of beating Judd Trump to win the Champion of Champions.

But many eyes will again be on world number one and fan favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan, who is after his eighth UK Championship.

Now a seven-time world champion, he first lifted the UK Championship 30 years ago in 1993 as a 17-year-old, beating Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, which made him the youngest winner of a ranking event.

He withdrew from the recent Champion of Champions event citing health concerns, but is scheduled to play at the UK Championship on Tuesday, November 28.

This week also sees the release of Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, a new film looking at the life of snooker’s greatest ever player, in cinemas from Tuesday, November 21.

Joining O'Sullivan and Allen, the 16 seeded players - already qualified - include current world champion Luca Brecel, former world champs Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, runners-up Kyren Wilson, Barry Hawkins, Ali Carter, International Championship winner Zhang Anda, 2023 Welsh Open winner Robert Milkins, ranking finalists Jack Lisowski, Tom Ford.

Among those outside the top 16 seeds, hoping o make it through the qualifiers in Leicester, are the likes of Ding Junhui, Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, Jimmy White, Stephen Maguire and Stuart Bingham.

The final round, Wednesday and Thursday, November 22 and 23, is known as Judgement Day when the 16 qualifiers go through to join the other big names in York for the main event, which starts on Saturday.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is going for his eighth UK Championship win after first lifting the title 30 years ago

All matches in York, up to and including the semi-finals, are best of 11 frames, then the final is best of 19.

A total of £1,205,000 prize money is at stake, with the winner awarded £250,000 and the runner-up on £100,000.

The World Snooker Tour will also award a £147,000 bonus to any player who makes two maximum breaks during this season’s Triple Crown Series.

Last year's event featured the new format and improved fan experience which proved extremely popular, with many sessions sold out.

Fans can watch the 2023 MrQ UK Championship qualifiers online throughout Europe, including the UK and Ireland, on discovery+ or the Eurosport App. Or watch on WST’s Facebook or YouTube channels, worldwide (outside China). Commentary on table one from David Hendon, Phil Yates and Steven Hallworth.

Presenter Rob Walker, commentator David Hendon and a star player will talk you through the action of the final round, with places in York at stake. There will be roving coverage of all four tables plus interviews with the winning players. And on Thursday, November 23, the draw for the final stages will be made live.

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen looking to retain his UK Championship title

First staged in 1977, the UK Championship is one of snooker’s longest running events.

DRAW: 2023 MRQ UK CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE YORK BARBICAN

For the full draw and format for the main event and qualifying rounds, visit www.wst.tv

Sat Nov 25:

1pm: Mark Allen v qualifier;

7pm: Mark Williams v qualifier; Kyren Wilson v qualifier; Tom Ford v qualifier

Sun, Nov 26:

1pm: Luca Brecel v qualifier; Zhang Anda v qualifier

7pm: Shaun Murphy v qualifier; Ali Carter v qualifier

Mon, Nov 27:

1pm: Judd Trump v qualifier; Barry Hawkins v qualifier

7pm: Mark Selby v qualifier; Jack Lisowski v qualifier

Tue, Nov 28:

1pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan v qualifier; John Higgins v qualifier

7pm: Neil Robertson v qualifier; Robert Milkins v qualifier

PREVIEW: Snooker superstars return to Yorkshire for 2023 MrQ UK Championship – here’s how to get tickets