YORK Barbican will not host this year’s Betway UK Snooker Championship - which instead is set for Milton Keynes.

Part of the Triple Crown, the Championship has been staged at York since 2011 but will be relocated to the Marshall Arena this year to aid adherence to coronvirus guidelines.

The facilities at the venue, including an on-site hotel, allow strict guidelines to be followed.

World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn, pictured (Richard Sellers/PA Wire), has expressed hopes that the Championship will return to the Minster city next year.

He said: “We are disappointed not to be going to York Barbican this year because it is a fantastic venue in a wonderful city.

“The people of York can rest assured that we fully intend to be back in York next year and, in fact, we have already agreed dates for 2021 and 2022 with the venue.”

The event, held between November 23 and December 6, will take place behind closed doors. Fans who had bought tickets will have their tickets automatically transferred to next year’s event.

From the second round onwards, the event will receive live television coverage.