This year is the 28th UK Snooker Championship.

Steve Davis has won the title six times and Stephen Hendry five.

When it began in 1977 the event was open only to British residents and passport holders.

With a field of 24, it was held at Blackpool Tower and Irishman Patsy Fagan took the £2,000 first prize.

In 1978, the event moved to Preston Guild Hall for the next 20 years.

The UK has always been regarded as the second most important event primarily as matches in those early days were always best of 19, with a final over 31 frames.

In more recent times, early rounds have been reduced to best of nine, but later rounds are still played over 17 frames and the final over 19.

In 1984 the event was opened up to all professionals and was granted ranking status since when it has always carried more points than any event outside the World Championship.

The UK Championship moved to Bournemouth in 1998 and in 2001 came to York's Barbican Centre, where it has been staged ever since.

UK Snooker Championship finals

1977: Patsy Fagan bt Doug Mountjoy 12-9.

1978: Doug Mountjoy bt David Taylor 15-9.

1979: John Virgo bt Terry Griffiths 14-13.

1980: Steve Davis bt Alex Higgins 16-6.

1981: Steve Davis bt Terry Griffiths 16-3.

1982: Terry Griffiths bt Alex Higgins 16-15.

1983: Alex Higgins bt Steve Davis 16-15.

1984: Steve Davis bt Alex Higgins 16-8.

1985: Steve Davis bt Willie Thorne 16-14.

1986: Steve Davis bt Neal Foulds 16-7.

1987: Steve Davis bt Jimmy White 16-14.

1988: Doug Mountjoy bt Stephen Hendry 16-12.

1989: Stephen Hendry bt Steve Davis 16-12.

1990: Stephen Hendry bt Steve Davis 16-15.

1991: John Parrott bt Jimmy White 16-13.

1992: Jimmy White bt John Parrott 16-9.

1993: Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Stephen Hendry 10-6.

1994: Stephen Hendry bt Ken Doherty 10-5.

1995: Stephen Hendry bt Peter Ebdon 10-3.

1996: Stephen Hendry bt John Higgins 10-9.

1997: Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Stephen Hendry 10-6.

1998: John Higgins bt Matthew Stevens 10-6.

1999: Mark Williams bt Matthew Stevens 10-8.

2000: John Higgins bt Mark Williams 10-4.

2001: Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Ken Doherty 10-1.

2002: Mark Williams bt Ken Doherty 10-9.

2003: Matthew Stevens bt Stephen Hendry 10-8.

Updated: 16:15 Wednesday, November 10, 2004