# 2011 UK Championship

The 2011 UK Championship (officially the 2011 williamhill.com UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 3–11 December 2011 at the Barbican Centre in York, England. This was the first time that William Hill sponsored the event.
John Higgins was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 4–6 against Stephen Maguire.
Judd Trump won his second ranking title by defeating Mark Allen 10–8 in the final.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

## Controversy

The format of the 2011 UK Championship was changed from previous editions. All rounds up to the quarter-finals were played as best of 11 frames instead of best of 17 frames. The semi-finals and the final were played as best of 17 and best of 19 frames respectively. The changes allowed for every match in the early rounds to be played in front of television cameras and avoided the need to use two extra tables. However, the changes angered some players including John Higgins, and Mark Williams, while Mark Allen called for Barry Hearn to resign as head of World Snooker, after Hearn had promised not to alter the championship when he had become the chairman in 2010. During the same interview Allen aimed a four lettered expletive at Hearn. Allen was later charged by World Snooker for bringing the game into disrepute. Hearn, following the original comments by Allen, called him a "silly little boy", to which Allen responded by gagging himself at a press conference. Allen and Hearn later sat down and had a discussion, which resolved their differences, while Allen was fined £250 for swearing in a press conference.

## Main draw

| Last 32 Best of 11 frames | Last 32 Best of 11 frames | Last 32 Best of 11 frames | Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames |
| 1 | John Higgins (SCO) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rory McLeod (ENG) | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rory McLeod (ENG) | 5 | 1 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Stephen Maguire (SCO) | 6 | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 3 | | | | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Judd Trump | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | 8 | Judd Trump | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Davis (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Davis (ENG) | 1 | 14 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Judd Trump | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Judd Trump (ENG) | 6 | 8 | Judd Trump | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dominic Dale (WAL) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dominic Dale (WAL) | 4 | | | | | | | | 8 | Judd Trump | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Neil Robertson | 7 | | | | |
| 5 | Ding Junhui (CHN) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Neil Robertson | 7 | | | | |
| | Mark Davis (ENG) | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Davis (ENG) | 5 | 5 | Ding Junhui | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Matthew Stevens (WAL) | 6 | 15 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marcus Campbell (SCO) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marcus Campbell (SCO) | 2 | | | | 5 | Ding Junhui | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Neil Robertson | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Graeme Dott (SCO) | 6 | | | | | | | 4 | Neil Robertson | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Matthew Selt (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Matthew Selt (ENG) | 1 | 10 | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Neil Robertson | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Neil Robertson (AUS) | 6 | 4 | Neil Robertson | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tom Ford (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tom Ford (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Judd Trump | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 8 |
| 3 | Mark Williams (WAL) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 8 |
| | Joe Jogia (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Jogia (ENG) | 4 | 3 | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Ricky Walden | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Stephen Lee (ENG) | 3 | | Ricky Walden | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden (ENG) | 6 | | | | | Ricky Walden | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Shaun Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Martin Gould (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | 6 | Shaun Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Lines (ENG) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Lines (ENG) | 2 | 16 | Martin Gould | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Shaun Murphy | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) | 6 | 6 | Shaun Murphy | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Li Yan (CHN) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Li Yan (CHN) | 3 | | | | | | | | | Ricky Walden | 7 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 9 | | | | |
| 7 | Ali Carter (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 9 | | | | |
| | Robert Milkins (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Milkins (ENG) | 4 | 7 | Ali Carter | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Mark Allen (NIR) | 6 | 12 | Mark Allen | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Adrian Gunnell (ENG) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Adrian Gunnell (ENG) | 3 | | | | 12 | Mark Allen | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Marco Fu (HKG) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marco Fu (HKG) | 6 | | Marco Fu | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Mark Selby | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Mark Selby (ENG) | 6 | 2 | Mark Selby | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ryan Day (WAL) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Barbican Centre, York, England, 11 December 2011. :
| Judd Trump (8) England | 10–8 | Mark Allen (12) Northern Ireland |
| Afternoon: 92–4 (70), 23–58 (56), 0–149 (141), 48–69, 86–49 (52), 62–30, 75–33 (75), 73–31 (61) Evening: 109–7 (109), 78–46 (78), 82–14 (74), 0–139 (139), 0–133 (129), 76–1 (76), 8–125 (125), 35–75, 32–95 (95), 91–0 (91) |||
| 109 | Highest break | 141 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 4 |
| 9 | 50+ breaks | 6 |

## Qualifying

These matches were held between 5 and 9 November 2011 at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester, England.

### Preliminary round

Best of 11 frames
| Daniel Wells (WAL) | 6–0 | Kacper Filipiak (POL) |
| Lucky Vatnani (IND) | 4–6 | Robin Hull (FIN) |

### Round 1–4

| Round 1 Best of 11 frames | Round 1 Best of 11 frames | Round 2 Best of 11 frames | Round 2 Best of 11 frames | Round 3 Best of 11 frames | Round 3 Best of 11 frames | Round 4 Best of 11 frames | Round 4 Best of 11 frames |
| Adam Duffy (ENG) | 6 | Alfie Burden (ENG) | 3 | Rory McLeod (ENG) | 6 | Barry Hawkins (ENG) | 2 |
| Dechawat Poomjaeng (THA) | 3 | Adam Duffy | 6 | Adam Duffy | 4 | Rory McLeod | 6 |
| Kurt Maflin (NOR) | 6 | Jimmy Robertson (ENG) | 6 | Gerard Greene (NIR) | 6 | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 6 |
| David Hogan (IRL) | 4 | Kurt Maflin | 5 | Jimmy Robertson | 2 | Gerard Greene | 2 |
| Ian McCulloch (ENG) | 6 | James Wattana (THA) | 5 | Steve Davis (ENG) | 6 | Andrew Higginson (ENG) | 2 |
| Luca Brecel (BEL) | 5 | Ian McCulloch | 6 | Ian McCulloch | 2 | Steve Davis | 6 |
| Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) | 4 | Liu Chuang (CHN) | 0 | Nigel Bond (ENG) | 6 | Dominic Dale (WAL) | 6 |
| Tian Pengfei (CHN) | 6 | Tian Pengfei | 6 | Tian Pengfei | 4 | Nigel Bond | 2 |
| Michael White (WAL) | 6 | Barry Pinches (ENG) | 4 | Liang Wenbo (CHN) | 2 | Mark Davis (ENG) | 6 |
| Daniel Wells (WAL) | 4 | Michael White | 6 | Michael White | 6 | Michael White | 2 |
| Andrew Pagett (WAL) | 5 | Ben Woollaston (ENG) | 6 | Michael Holt (ENG) | 3 | Marcus Campbell (SCO) | 6 |
| Sam Craigie (ENG) | 6 | Sam Craigie | 5 | Ben Woollaston | 6 | Ben Woollaston | 3 |
| Matthew Couch (ENG) | 2 | Liu Song (CHN) | 3 | Matthew Selt (ENG) | 6 | Mark King (ENG) | 4 |
| Cao Yupeng (CHN) | 6 | Cao Yupeng | 6 | Cao Yupeng | 3 | Matthew Selt | 6 |
| Paul Davison (ENG) | 2 | Xiao Guodong (CHN) | 6 | Mike Dunn (ENG) | 0 | Tom Ford (ENG) | 6 |
| Adam Wicheard (ENG) | 6 | Adam Wicheard | 5 | Xiao Guodong | 6 | Xiao Guodong | 0 |
| Liam Highfield (ENG) | 3 | Anthony McGill (SCO) | 6 | Joe Jogia (ENG) | 6 | Jamie Cope (ENG) | 3 |
| Sam Baird (ENG) | 6 | Sam Baird | 2 | Anthony McGill | 5 | Joe Jogia | 6 |
| Passakorn Suwannawat (THA) | 6 | Jimmy White (ENG) | 6 | Jamie Jones (WAL) | 6 | Ricky Walden (ENG) | 6 |
| Joe Meara (NIR) | 0 | Passakorn Suwannawat | 2 | Jimmy White | 5 | Jamie Jones | 2 |
| Yu Delu (CHN) | 1 | Peter Lines (ENG) | 6 | Alan McManus (SCO) | 4 | Ken Doherty (IRL) | 5 |
| Robin Hull (FIN) | 6 | Robin Hull | 4 | Peter Lines | 6 | Peter Lines | 6 |
| Li Yan (CHN) | 6 | Andy Hicks (ENG) | 5 | Jack Lisowski (ENG) | 2 | Fergal O'Brien (IRL) | 2 |
| Stuart Carrington (ENG) | 4 | Li Yan | 6 | Li Yan | 6 | Li Yan | 6 |
| David Gilbert (ENG) | 6 | Joe Swail (NIR) | 1 | Robert Milkins (ENG) | 6 | Peter Ebdon (ENG) | 3 |
| Aditya Mehta (IND) | 5 | David Gilbert | 6 | David Gilbert | 5 | Robert Milkins | 6 |
| David Morris (IRL) | 3 | Adrian Gunnell (ENG) | 6 | Dave Harold (ENG) | 3 | Joe Perry (ENG) | 4 |
| David Grace (ENG) | 6 | David Grace | 4 | Adrian Gunnell | 6 | Adrian Gunnell | 6 |
| Rod Lawler (ENG) | 6 | Mark Joyce (ENG) | 6 | Anthony Hamilton (ENG) | 6 | Marco Fu (HKG) | 6 |
| Simon Bedford (ENG) | 2 | Rod Lawler | 5 | Mark Joyce | 4 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 |
| Andrew Norman (ENG) | 6 | Tony Drago (MLT) | 6 | Jamie Burnett (SCO) | 6 | Ryan Day (WAL) | 6 |
| Scott MacKenzie (SCO) | 5 | Andrew Norman | 3 | Tony Drago | 3 | Jamie Burnett | 0 |