The 2019 UK Championship (officially the 2019 Betway UK Championship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 26 November to 8 December 2019 in the Barbican Centre, York, England. The 43rd edition of the UK Championship, it was the seventh ranking tournament and the first Triple Crown event of the 2019–20 season. The event was broadcast on BBC Sport in the United Kingdom and on Eurosport throughout Europe. The tournament was sponsored by betting company Betway.

2019 Betway UK Championship
Tournament information
Dates26 November – 8 December 2019 (2019-11-26 – 2019-12-08)
VenueBarbican Centre
CityYork
CountryEngland
OrganisationWorld Snooker
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,009,000
Winner's share£200,000
Highest break Barry Hawkins (ENG) (147)
Final
Champion Ding Junhui (CHN)
Runner-up Stephen Maguire (SCO)
Score10–6
2018
2020

The defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, had won the previous two championships, defeating Shaun Murphy 10–5 in the 2017 final, and Mark Allen 10–6 in the 2018 final. O'Sullivan was eliminated in the last 16 by Ding Junhui, who won the match 6–4 and proceeded to reach the final of the event, defeating compatriots Liang Wenbo and Yan Bingtao, both 6–2, in the two intervening rounds. Ding's opponent in the final was Stephen Maguire, who had won his semi-final 6–0 against Mark Allen. Ding defeated Maguire 10–6 to win his third UK championship.[1]

Barry Hawkins compiled a maximum break in the fourth frame of his first round match with Gerard Greene. It was the first maximum break to be made at the UK Championship since 2016, and the third of Hawkins' career. There were a total of 139 century breaks in the event.

Overview

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The setup inside the York Barbican during the event

The 2019 UK Championship took place between 26 November and 8 December 2019 at the York Barbican, York, England.[2] It was the 11th ranking event of the 2019–20 snooker season, and the first Triple Crown event of the season.[2][3][4] All 128 players from the World Snooker Tour participated. Every match, except for the final, was played over a maximum of 11 frames, and the final was held over two sessions as a best-of-19-frames match.[5] The first round of the competition started on 26 November, with players seeded according to their world rankings.[6]

The defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, had won the previous two UK championships, having defeated Shaun Murphy 10–5 in the 2017 final,[7] and Mark Allen 10–6 in the 2018 final.[8] O'Sullivan was seeded first, as defending champion, ahead of world number one Judd Trump.[6] The tournament was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by BBC Sport, and shown on Eurosport in Europe.[9] Worldwide, the event was covered by China Central Television and Superstars Online in China, and by Sky Sports in New Zealand.[9] It was simulcast in Hong Kong by Now TV with additional commentary; DAZN covered the event across Canada, Brazil and the United States.[9]

Prize fund

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The total prize fund for the event was more than £1,000,000 for the first time,[10] the winner receiving £200,000. The breakdown of prize money is shown below:[11]

  • Winner: £200,000
  • Runner-up: £80,000
  • Semi-final: £40,000
  • Quarter-final: £24,500
  • Last 16: £17,000
  • Last 32: £12,000
  • Last 64: £6,500
  • Highest break: £15,000
  • Total: £1,009,000

Summary

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Barry Hawkins made a maximum break in his first-round win over Gerard Greene.

The 2019 UK Championship began with the opening round from 26 November.[12] World number eight Shaun Murphy lost to Israeli player Eden Sharav 4–6.[13] Murphy had led the match 3–1, before Sharav won five of the next six frames to win the match.[13] World number 118 James Cahill defeated world number 11 David Gilbert 6–4.[14] Gilbert commented after the match that there were "no positives" from the match, and he wanted to "smash up [his] cue".[14] Barry Hawkins compiled the highest break of the tournament, when he made a maximum break in the fourth frame of his 6–2 win over Gerard Greene.[15][16] Kyren Wilson completed a 6–0 whitewash win over Riley Parsons, whilst Mark Williams defeated Fraser Patrick 6–2, despite calling his own performance "awful".[17]

Two-time winner Mark Williams was defeated in the second round by Michael White.[18] World number nine Kyren Wilson was defeated by world number 56 Marco Fu in a deciding frame 5–6.[16][19] In the third round, world number one Judd Trump was defeated by 54-year-old Nigel Bond 3–6. Bond trailed 1–3 early in the match, but won five straight frames to win the match.[20] Trump had been attempting to hold all three Triple Crown events simultaneously, having won the Masters tournament and the World Championship earlier in the year.[20] Ranked 98th in the world, Bond also progressed to the quarter-finals after defeating Gary Wilson 6–5, having trailed 2–5.[21] Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan met Ding Junhui in the last 16, but failed to pot a ball in the first three frames. However, O'Sullivan made back-to-back century breaks to tie the match at 4–4, before Ding took the final two frames to win 6–4.[22]

 
Ding Junhui won the tournament for the third time, defeating Stephen Maguire 10–6.

Having last reached the quarter-finals 16 years previously, Nigel Bond met Mark Allen. Bond led 3–1, but Allen won the next three frames, before Bond tied the match twice to force a deciding frame.[23] Allen won the decider, but commented that the match table was "probably the worst I have played on as a professional".[23] Stephen Maguire, who was still recovering from a fractured foot from October, defeated Matthew Stevens 6–4.[23] Teenager Yan Bingtao defeated three-time champion John Higgins 6–3 despite not making a break over 50.[24] Ding Junhui defeated fellow Chinese player Liang Wenbo in the last quarter-final 6–2.[24] In the semi-finals, Ding defeated Yan Bingtao 6–2, with Yan only making one break over 50.[25] In the other semi-final, Maguire completed a 6–0 whitewash win over Allen in just 89 minutes.[26] Post match, Allen commented that he was "a bit shell-shocked" by the result and that Maguire "played superbly from start to finish. He went for his shots, was aggressive and looked like he wanted it. If he plays like that, he will definitely beat Ding."[27][28]

The final was played as the best of 19 frames on 8 December. Stephen Maguire had won the event previously in 2004 and had again reached the final in 2007,[29] but had not won a ranking event since the 2013 Welsh Open.[30] His opponent Ding Junhui had won the event in both 2005 and 2009, but had also not won a ranking event in the prior two years.[30] Ding won the first four frames of the match, including two century breaks, before Maguire won the next three.[29] Ding won the eighth frame to lead 5–3 at the end of the session, before winning the next two frames to lead 7–3. Maguire took frame 11 after a fluke but Ding won the next with a break of 67.[29] Frame 13 went to Maguire who made a century break after Ding missed a pot on the black ball, and Maguire made another century in frame 14.[29] However, Ding made a century break of his own in frame 15 to lead 9–6 and won the match in frame 16 with his fourth century of the final.[29][30] This was Ding's third UK Championship title, his first in ten years.[30]

Tournament draw

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The results of the event are shown below. The winners of each match are indicated in bold.[31]

Top half

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Section 1

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 6
A   Ross Bulman (IRL) 0
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan 6
65   Tian Pengfei 0
64   Sam Craigie (ENG) 4
65   Tian Pengfei (CHN) 6
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan 6
32   Noppon Saengkham 2
32   Noppon Saengkham (THA) 6
97   Jackson Page (WAL) 5
32   Noppon Saengkham 6
33   Anthony McGill 3
33   Anthony McGill (SCO) 6
96   Mitchell Mann (ENG) 1
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan 4
16   Ding Junhui 6
16   Ding Junhui (CHN) 6
113   Duane Jones (WAL) 2
16   Ding Junhui 6
49   Michael Georgiou 2
49   Michael Georgiou (CYP) 6
80   Oliver Lines (ENG) 4
16   Ding Junhui 6
17   Ali Carter 4
17   Ali Carter (ENG) 6
112   Brandon Sargeant (ENG) 0
17   Ali Carter 6
48   Robert Milkins 2
48   Robert Milkins (ENG) 6
81   Harvey Chandler (ENG) 4

Section 2

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
41   Li Hang (CHN) 6
88   Jamie Clarke (WAL) 1
41   Li Hang 6
24   Xiao Guodong 4
24   Xiao Guodong (CHN) 6
105   Rod Lawler (ENG) 1
41   Li Hang 6
56   Marco Fu 4
56   Marco Fu (HKG) 6
73   Craig Steadman (ENG) 3
56   Marco Fu 6
9   Kyren Wilson 5
9   Kyren Wilson (ENG) 6
120   Riley Parsons (ENG) 0
41   Li Hang 4
40   Liang Wenbo 6
40   Liang Wenbo (CHN) 6
89   Dominic Dale (WAL) 5
40   Liang Wenbo 6
104   David Grace 3
25   Tom Ford (ENG) 3
104   David Grace (ENG) 6
40   Liang Wenbo 6
121   Eden Sharav 4
57   Daniel Wells (WAL) 6
72   Zhang Anda (CHN) 3
57   Daniel Wells 2
121   Eden Sharav 6
8   Shaun Murphy (ENG) 4
121   Eden Sharav (ISR) 6

Section 3

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
5   John Higgins (SCO) 6
124   Peter Lines (ENG) 0
5   John Higgins 6
60   Lu Ning 1
60   Lu Ning (CHN) 6
69   Joe O'Connor (ENG) 0
5   John Higgins 6
101   Ian Burns 1
28   Matthew Selt (ENG) 0
101   Ian Burns (ENG) 6
101   Ian Burns 6
37   Michael Holt 5
37   Michael Holt (ENG) 6
92   Adam Stefanow (POL) 1
5   John Higgins 6
12   Stuart Bingham 4
12   Stuart Bingham (ENG) 6
117   Lei Peifan (CHN) 4
12   Stuart Bingham 6
53   Martin Gould 4
53   Martin Gould (ENG) 6
76   Alfie Burden (ENG) 4
12   Stuart Bingham 6
44   Zhao Xintong 1
21   Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) 6
108   Jamie O'Neill (ENG) 5
21   Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4
44   Zhao Xintong 6
44   Zhao Xintong (CHN) 6
85   Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI) 5

Section 4

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
45   Stuart Carrington (ENG) 6
84   James Wattana (THA) 3
45   Stuart Carrington 2
20   Yan Bingtao 6
20   Yan Bingtao (CHN) 6
109   Igor Figueiredo (BRA) 1
20   Yan Bingtao 6
13   Jack Lisowski 3
52   Peter Ebdon (ENG) 6
77   John Astley (ENG) 5
52   Peter Ebdon 2
13   Jack Lisowski 6
13   Jack Lisowski (ENG) 6
116   David Lilley (ENG) 2
20   Yan Bingtao 6
4   Neil Robertson 1
36   Mark King (ENG) 6
93   Chang Bingyu (CHN) 5
36   Mark King 6
29   Lyu Haotian 1
29   Lyu Haotian (CHN) 6
100   Andy Lee (HKG) 1
36   Mark King 4
4   Neil Robertson 6
61   Robbie Williams (ENG) 6
68   Luo Honghao (CHN) 3
61   Robbie Williams 4
4   Neil Robertson 6
4   Neil Robertson (AUS) 6
125   Alex Borg (MLT) 0

Bottom half

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Section 5

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
3   Mark Williams (WAL) 6
126   Fraser Patrick (SCO) 2
3   Mark Williams 2
62   Michael White 6
62   Michael White (WAL) 6
67   Fergal O'Brien (IRL) 2
62   Michael White 6
35   Mark Davis 5
30   Zhou Yuelong (CHN) 4
99   Fan Zhengyi (CHN) 6
99   Fan Zhengyi 4
35   Mark Davis 6
35   Mark Davis (ENG) 6
94   Si Jiahui (CHN) 5
62   Michael White 4
14   Stephen Maguire 6
14   Stephen Maguire (SCO) 6
115   Billy Joe Castle (ENG) 4
14   Stephen Maguire 6
78   Jordan Brown 2
51   Mark Joyce (ENG) 2
78   Jordan Brown (NIR) 6
14   Stephen Maguire 6
19   Graeme Dott 2
19   Graeme Dott (SCO) 6
110   Barry Pinches (ENG) 1
19   Graeme Dott 6
46   Yuan Sijun 0
46   Yuan Sijun (CHN) 6
83   Hammad Miah (ENG) 5

Section 6

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
43   Matthew Stevens (WAL) 6
86   Chen Feilong (CHN) 0
43   Matthew Stevens 6
22   Ryan Day 5
22   Ryan Day (WAL) 6
107   Soheil Vahedi (IRN) 3
43   Matthew Stevens 6
54   Anthony Hamilton 2
54   Anthony Hamilton (ENG) 6
75   Sam Baird (ENG) 2
54   Anthony Hamilton 6
118   James Cahill 3
11   David Gilbert (ENG) 4
118   James Cahill (ENG) 6
43   Matthew Stevens 6
6   Mark Selby 5
38   Martin O'Donnell (ENG) 6
91   Kishan Hirani (WAL) 4
38   Martin O'Donnell 6
27   Ricky Walden 2
27   Ricky Walden (ENG) 6
102   Xu Si (CHN) 3
38   Martin O'Donnell 3
6   Mark Selby 6
59   Liam Highfield (ENG) 6
70   Mike Dunn (ENG) 2
59   Liam Highfield 3
6   Mark Selby 6
6   Mark Selby (ENG) 6
123   Andy Hicks (ENG) 0

Section 7

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
7   Mark Allen (NIR) 6
122   Jimmy White (ENG) 3
7   Mark Allen 6
71   Jak Jones 5
58   Andrew Higginson (ENG) 4
71   Jak Jones (WAL) 6
7   Mark Allen 6
39   Ben Woollaston 1
26   Scott Donaldson (SCO) 6
103   Chen Zifan (CHN) 1
26   Scott Donaldson 4
39   Ben Woollaston 6
39   Ben Woollaston (ENG) 6
90   Zhang Jiankang (CHN) 2
7   Mark Allen 6
42   Kurt Maflin 5
10   Barry Hawkins (ENG) 6
119   Gerard Greene (NIR) 2
10   Barry Hawkins 4
55   Alan McManus 6
55   Alan McManus (SCO) 6
74   Elliot Slessor (ENG) 1
55   Alan McManus 2
42   Kurt Maflin 6
23   Jimmy Robertson (ENG) 6
106   Kacper Filipiak (POL) 4
23   Jimmy Robertson 2
42   Kurt Maflin 6
42   Kurt Maflin (NOR) 6
87   Thor Chuan Leong (MYS) 2

Section 8

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Last 128
Best of 11 frames
Last 64
Best of 11 frames
Last 32
Best of 11 frames
Last 16
Best of 11 frames
            
47   Chris Wakelin (ENG) 6
82   Ashley Carty (ENG) 3
47   Chris Wakelin 4
18   Gary Wilson 6
18   Gary Wilson (ENG) 6
111   Bai Langning (CHN) 3
18   Gary Wilson 6
15   Joe Perry 1
50   Sunny Akani (THA) 6
79   Lee Walker (WAL) 4
50   Sunny Akani 3
15   Joe Perry 6
15   Joe Perry (ENG) 6
114   Simon Lichtenberg (GER) 5
18   Gary Wilson 5
98   Nigel Bond 6
34   Hossein Vafaei (IRN) 5
95   Louis Heathcote (ENG) 6
95   Louis Heathcote 5
98   Nigel Bond 6
31   Luca Brecel (BEL) 5
98   Nigel Bond (ENG) 6
98   Nigel Bond 6
2   Judd Trump 3
63   Ken Doherty (IRL) 4
66   Mei Xiwen (CHN) 6
66   Mei Xiwen 1
2   Judd Trump 6
2   Judd Trump (ENG) 6
127   Amine Amiri (MAR) 0

Finals

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Quarter-finals
Best of 11 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames
Final
Best of 19 frames
         
16   Ding Junhui 6
40   Liang Wenbo 2
16   Ding Junhui 6
20   Yan Bingtao 2
5   John Higgins 3
20   Yan Bingtao 6
16   Ding Junhui 10
14   Stephen Maguire 6
14   Stephen Maguire 6
43   Matthew Stevens 4
14   Stephen Maguire 6
7   Mark Allen 0
7   Mark Allen 6
98   Nigel Bond 5

Final

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Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Greg Coniglio
Barbican Centre, York, England, 8 December 2019.
Ding Junhui (16)
  China
10–6 Stephen Maguire (14)
  Scotland
Afternoon: 95–38, 62–23, 105–16 (105), 128–12 (128), 25–93, 49–77, 12–76, 67–28
Evening: 83–5, 73–53, 0–104 (103), 71–27, 1–104 (103), 0–124 (124), 131–0 (131), 114–8 (114)
131 Highest break 124
4 Century breaks 3

Century breaks

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A total of 139 century breaks were made by 58 players during the championship.[32] Barry Hawkins made the highest of the tournament, making a maximum break in his first round win over Gerard Greene.[33] It was the first maximum break to be made at the UK Championship since 2016, and the third of Hawkins' career.[33]

References

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  1. ^ "Ding Junhui holds off Stephen Maguire to win third UK Championship". The Guardian. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "2019 Betway UK championship". World Snooker. 26 November – 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  3. ^ "2019/20 Season Calendar". World Snooker. 7 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Tickets for 2019 UK Snooker On Sale". World Snooker. 9 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Betway UK Championship (2019)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Seedings 2019/2020". snooker.org. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Ronnie O'Sullivan demolishes Shaun Murphy to seal UK Championship title". The Guardian. 10 December 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  8. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (9 December 2018). "O'Sullivan wins record seventh UK title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Tournament Broadcasters 2019–20 – World Snooker". World Snooker. 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  10. ^ Hercock, Richard (7 December 2018). "Barbican prize money for next year's 2019 UK Championship to break £1m barrier". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  11. ^ "2019–2020 Season Summary" (PDF). World Snooker. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. ^ "UK Championship Snooker 2019: Draw, schedule, results, betting odds & TV coverage". Sporting Life. UK. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b Caulfield, David (29 November 2019). "Shaun Murphy Loses to Eden Sharav". SnookerHQ. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  14. ^ a b Phillips, Owen (27 November 2019). "UK Championship: James Cahill defeat leaves David Gilbert wanting to 'smash up cue'". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  15. ^ Phillips, Owen (27 November 2019). "UK Championship: Barry Hawkins makes 147 in victory over Gerard Greene". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  16. ^ a b "UK Championship 2019: Complete tournament results". BBC Sport. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  17. ^ Phillips, Owen (27 November 2019). "UK Championship: Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson ease through". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Mark Williams crashes out of UK Championship after defeat to Michael White". Isle of Wight County Press. 1 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  19. ^ "LIVE Marco Fu - Kyren Wilson - UK Championship - 30 November 2019". Eurosport. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. ^ a b Phillips, Owen. "Bond knocks out Trump at UK Championship". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Snooker news – Nigel Bond into quarter-finals after thrilling comeback against Gary Wilson". Eurosport UK. 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  22. ^ Phillips, Owen (5 December 2019). "Ding beats O'Sullivan in UK Championship". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  23. ^ a b c Hafez, Shamoon (6 December 2019). "Allen knocks out veteran Bond in decider". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  24. ^ a b Phillips, Owen (6 December 2019). "Yan beats Higgins to set up Ding match". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Snooker news – Ding Junhui reaches final with comfortable win over Yan Bingtao". Eurosport UK. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Maguire Crushes Allen To Reach Final". World Snooker. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Snooker news – Stephen Maguire whitewashes Mark Allen to set up Ding clash in final". Eurosport UK. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  28. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (7 December 2019). "Maguire to face Ding in UK final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  29. ^ a b c d e "UK Championship final as it happened – Ding beats Maguire to take title". Eurosport UK. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d Hafez, Shamoon (8 December 2019). "Ding beats Maguire to win third UK title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  31. ^ "UK Championship (2019) results". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Betway UK Championship 2019 – Centuries". World Snooker. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  33. ^ a b Phillips, Owen (27 November 2019). "UK Championship: Barry Hawkins makes 147 in victory over Gerard Greene". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
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