TICKETS for the Betway UK Snooker Championship final in York have sold out six months in advance.

The tournament, which has been staged at York Barbican since 2011, runs for nearly two weeks and starts on November 28.

Last year's final saw world champion Mark Selby lifting the trophy for the second time after a 10-7 victory over five-time former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Melbourne's Ashley Hugill is set to make his first appearance at the tournament since turning professional this month.

He has appeared once before in the Barbican - as an amateur in 2015 - but admits he is relishing his first return as a full-time pro.

"It will definitely be one of the highlights of my first pro season,” he said. "The Barbican is such a fantastic venue and it will be a chance for all of my family and friends to watch me play live."

Hugill's first season on snooker's World Tour started with a defeat on Wednesday in the qualifiers of the Kaspersky Riga Masters at Preston's Guild Hall.

The 22-year-old lost 4-0 to Stuart Carrington, the world number 39 from Grimsby, and scored only 71 points in the match.

Hugill's next game is a China Championship qualifier against Matthew Stevens on Tuesday at the Guild Hall.

"There is a lot more expectation on me this season now I’m on the tour but I’m excited about the challenge," he said. "Hopefully, before York, I will have had a good start to the season and climbed up the rankings."

Pickering's Paul Davidson, meanwhile, was handed a bye to the first round of the Riga Masters after the withdrawal of his scheduled opponent Niu Zhuang.

Davison plays Alfie Burden on Monday in the qualifying round for the China Championship.

The Betway UK Championship is one of snooker's 'Triple Crown' events – alongside the Masters and World Championship – and will feature 128 players.

Ticket sales have grown year on year and, with seats to both sessions of the December 10 final now gone, other sessions are expected to sell out quickly.

All ticket and special offers for the event can be found at www.worldsnooker.com/tickets or by calling 0844 854 2757.