UK Championship Snooker 2023: prize money, odds, format, John Higgins next match and how to watch

One of the most prestigious tournamnents in snooker – and the first Triple Crown event of the 2023/24 season – is now underway.

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen poses with the winner's trophy after the snooker final of the 2022 Cazoo UK Championship at the York Barbican in York.

First held in 1977, this year’s UK Championship is the 46th time the finest players in the world have competed for the title.

Last year’s tournament saw Northern Ireland's Mark Allen defeat China's Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final.

With the first round matches now finished John Higgins is the sole Scot left in the competition - after Anthony McGill's loss to favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year's event - including when Scotland's players start their campaign.

When is the UK Championship 2023?

The UK Championship 2023 started on Saturday, November 25, and will run until Sunday, December 3.

What is the prize money?

The event features a total prize fund of £1,205,000.

The winner receives £250,000, with the runner-up landing £100,000 and semi-finalists £50,000.

Quarter-finalists get £25,000, followed by £15,000 for the last 16, £10,000 for the last 32, £7,500 for the last 48, £5,00 for the last 80, and £2,500 for those knocked out in the first round.

The player who gets the highest break in the tournament gets an additional £15,000.

Who is favourite to win?

The bookies reckon Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the most likely players to lift the trophy, with odds of 3/1, followed by Mark Selby (13/2), Mark Williams (9/1), John Higgins (10/1) and and Luca Brecel (14/1).

When is John Higgins playing next?

John Higgins will take on Zhou Yuelong on Thursday, November 29, at 1pm. The winner will play Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the quarter finals.

What is the format?

The 16 highest-ranked players in the world join 16 successful qualifiers for the tournament, which is played as a knock-out competition.

All matches before the final are the best of 11 frames (first to six), while the final is the best of 19 frames (first to 10).

What record could Ronnie O’Sullivan break at this year’s UK Championship?

If Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2023 UK Championship he will become the first player to win a single ranking title eight times – extending the record he currently holds jointly with Stephen Hendry.

He already holds the record for the most World Championship wins (seven – joint with Hendry), most Masters titles (seven), most Triple Crown titles (21) and most ranking titles (39).