The UK Championship format is now similar to the World Championship format in its structure and that means that a number of amateurs are invited to compete n the first round.
The WPBSA and World Snooker Tour (WST) have today announced the official qualifying criteria for the 2025 UK Championship which will once again see 16 elite amateur players earn their places through recognised WPBSA pathways.
One of snooker’s longest running events, the UK Championship is part of the Triple Crown Series alongside the World Championship and Masters tournaments. The event will see the world’s top 16 seeded through to the final stages, to be held at the York Barbican from 29 November – 7 December 2025.
The remaining players will compete in the qualifying rounds in Wigan from 22-27 November, with 16 players to emerge and complete the last 32 line-up.
WPBSA Qualifiers
The field for this year’s event will again include up to 16 players to have earned their places through new pathway opportunities for elite performers through activities staged and coordinated by the WPBSA Group.
The qualifying criteria is set out below:
WPBSA Q Tour Europe
The winner from each of this season’s first four WPBSA Q Tour Europe events will automatically qualify, with Hammad Miah having already secured the first place following his recent victory at the season-opening event in Sweden:
Hammad Miah – WPBSA Q Tour Europe 2025/26 – Event 1 winner
TBC – WPBSA Q Tour Europe 2025/26 – Event 2 winner
TBC – WPBSA Q Tour Europe 2025/26 – Event 3 winner
TBC – WPBSA Q Tour Europe 2025/26 – Event 4 winner
WSF Championships
Eligible players from the world’s largest international amateur tournaments:
Krzysztof Czapnik – EBSA Under-16 Championship 2025 – Finalist
Oliver Sykes – EBSA Under-21 Championship 2025 – Finalist
Any players who do not accept their place will be replaced by reserve players from the WPBSA Q Tour Europe Ranking List after Event 4.
I know that this “new” format is not to everyone’s liking, but I do like it. Also the BBC “support” is very important for snooker as a sport, and “elevating” the status of the UK championship is certainly a good strategic move for the sport and for the players if they want the BBC to continue supporting it, which I’m sure they do. The BBC coverage is excellent … but unfortunately not available to me here in Greece, other than by using a vpn. That said, in recent years, some of the older commentators showed a coupable ignorance about the younger players, especially those from outside the UK. That has to be addressed.
One thought on “WPBSA Qualifying Criteria For The 2025 UK Championship”
Well, the BBC coverage of the UK Championship starts at the last-32 stage, when the top players come in, and the vast majority of players have been eliminated. This year the ‘qualifiers’ are held in Wigan. It’s unlikely anyone outside the top-64 will get through, although it’s possible (perhaps a player like Chang Bingyu who’s just rejoined the tour).
Yes, the BBC commentators tend to do no preparation, not even watching the ‘Judgement Day’ coverage which is free-to-air on Youtube. In recent years, they have been helped by a fact-sheet created by their producer, so they can read out some results, but may not have seen any new players play before.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Well, the BBC coverage of the UK Championship starts at the last-32 stage, when the top players come in, and the vast majority of players have been eliminated. This year the ‘qualifiers’ are held in Wigan. It’s unlikely anyone outside the top-64 will get through, although it’s possible (perhaps a player like Chang Bingyu who’s just rejoined the tour).
Yes, the BBC commentators tend to do no preparation, not even watching the ‘Judgement Day’ coverage which is free-to-air on Youtube. In recent years, they have been helped by a fact-sheet created by their producer, so they can read out some results, but may not have seen any new players play before.