Snooker ace Shaun Murphy is thrilled by the decision to take the UK Championship back to York this December.
The tournament was held in the city from 2001 to 2006 and returns to the Barbican Centre from December 3 to 11 this year.
Snooker’s second biggest ranking event will feature stars such as John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Sale-based Murphy.
“I think it’s fantastic news,” said Murphy, who won the World title in 2005 and the UK in 2008.
“Funnily enough it’s not somewhere where I have the greatest snooker memories and I’ve never done that well in the two or three times I’ve played there.
“But York is a fabulous city around Christmas time and there aren’t too many nicer places in the UK, so it’s great news.”
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