Snooker · Guide
Snooker's Triple Crown
The World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters: the three events every player wants on their record. All three are live on the BBC.
| Event | When | Where | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Championship | Late November to early December | The Barbican, York | Ranking event |
| Masters | January | Alexandra Palace, London | Invitational, top 16 only |
| World Championship | Late April to early May | Crucible Theatre, Sheffield | Ranking event, the biggest of the season |
Why these three
- The World Championship is the oldest and most important title, with the longest matches: the final is best of 35 frames.
- The UK Championship is the second-biggest ranking event, and the one that opens the Triple Crown each season.
- The Masters has no qualifiers: only the world's top 16 are invited, so every match is between elite players.
Completing the set
Winning all three at least once is one of the marks of a great career. Players who have done it include Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump. O'Sullivan has won more Triple Crown titles than anyone.
The past winners of each are on the event pages, and every world final since 2010 is on the world champions page.
Quick answers
- What is the Triple Crown in snooker?
- The three most prestigious events: the World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters.
- Who has won the most Triple Crown titles?
- Ronnie O'Sullivan, with more Triple Crown wins than any other player, including seven world titles.
- Are the Triple Crown events on free TV?
- Yes. The BBC shows all three live in the UK.
- Is the Masters a ranking event?
- No. It is an invitational event for the top 16, so it does not count towards the world rankings, but it is still one of the Triple Crown.
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