The first triple crown event of the 2025/26 season is upon us with the UK Championship Snooker set to get underway on Saturday in York. And our green baize gurus have been studying the early season form in a bid to pick out the best value bets for the outright winner.
UK Championship Snooker Outright Winner Tips
The opening tournaments of the season suggest that this year’s event could be as open as ever, with 11 different winners in the 11 events on the professional circuit so far. And we have come up with three great picks for the outright winner market in York. We have analysed the odds at the best UK online bookies to find the best value prices.
*Odds correct at 07:00 on 27/11/2025. Odds subject to change.
Zhao Xintong: World Champion Great Value at 9/2 After Riyadh Win
Second favourite behind Judd Trump, World Champion Zhao beat Neil Robertson to claim the Riyadh Season title last Friday. It is the 28-year-old's first trophy since winning the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible in May. Zhao won the UK Championships back in 2021, and he looks to be coming into form at just the right time to land the first major of the season.
Mark Selby: The Jester from Leicester to Have the Last Laugh
We think that Mark Selby’s odds of 9/1 with Betfred are too good to ignore given his pedigree. And given the fact that Selby beat world number one Trump to land the Champion of Champions trophy in November. The four-time world champion has also made three other semi-finals this season, meaning that 42-year-old Selby might once again have the consistency to make a serious challenge for the Triple Crown events. Starting with the UK Championships.
John Higgins: Evergreen Scot a Fantastic Outside Bet
John Higgins has three UK Snooker Championships to his name, with the last one coming in 2010. However, the Wizard of Wishaw has started the season in encouraging fashion after ending the 2024/25 campaign on a positive note. Higgins claimed the World Open and Tour Championship before narrowly losing to Mark Williams in the World Championships quarterfinals at the Crucible.
The 50-year-old has also got the current season off to a positive start with a semi-final appearance in the British Open and another three quarter-finals. The four-time World Champion is producing his most consistent snooker for years and, should you be looking for an outsider or possibly even an each-way bet then you may want to back Higgins.
