For ten years, the York Barbican has had the balls – and the baize, and the bright lights – to broadcast the UK Snooker Championship to a watching world.
And next Tuesday (November 24) the centre will begin its 11th year hosting the event.
So much has changed since it first became home to the tournament in 2001. Back then Ronnie O’Sullivan won the title.
Roll forward to last year, and… well, Ronnie O’Sullivan won again, but a lot has changed.
Will Rocket Ronnie steam off with a York victory again? Absolutely not, as he has not entered the tournament this year.
So could Judd Trump triumph – or will a Selby (aka world number one Mark) be York’s top dog?
Who knows. But to whet your appetite we’ve found ten videos from the two Barbican eras (2001-2006 and 2011 to now) with some of the best bits…
2001: Stars get Scrooge treatment in Castle Museum
This is wonderful. It’s the first year the Barbican has hosted the event and so they took over Kirkgate in the Castle Museum to reenact A Christmas Carol.
Ex-players and commentators play the main parts: Steve Davis is Scrooge, John Parrott’s Bob Cratchit and Willie Thorne the ghost. With a starring role for York town crier John Redpath too.
2003: Hendry gets 100 in the final
Stephen Hendry gets a three-figure break in the 2003 final (although the commentary is all Greek to us). He went on to lose to Matthew Stevens.
2011: How to make an entrance at the snooker
Anyone who has been to the Barbican snooker will know the warm up routine, when someone from the audience is chosen to take the place of a player being introduced at the start of the session.
Well this volunteer makes the most of his moment…
2011: Bonanza time at the Barbican
Compilation of some great bits from four years ago – look out for Ronnie blowing kisses.
2012: Mrs Chilli Jam Man storms the stage
Another pre-tournament rehearsal – which actually made it onto the BBC’s broadcast. Bonita Barrett from Thixendale was chosen to be a stand-in snooker player, as it was days before her marriage into the Chilli Jam Man Street Food empire.
And she makes a much more joyous entrance than the professionals.
2012: Sensational shots of the championship
And the sport itself was sizzling that year, as these greatest hits show. Look out for Ryan Day’s incredible swerve shot.
2012: 147 maximum break by John Higgins
How to clear a full table in just ten minutes…
2013: Sneak behind the scenes at the Barbican
Turns out it’s quite cramped and the TV studio is squashed into a spare corner.
2014: Judd Trump flukes the black
Why go for the bottom pocket when the middle one’s just as good?
2014: Rocket Ronnie hits a 147
What a shame he’s not back this year.