SNOOKER legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has been fined £4,000 for making "lewd and offensive" gestures, including at the York Barbican-held UK Championship.

O'Sullivan made the gestures at last year's UK Championship and this year's World Championships.

An independent tribunal ruled last month that the seven-time world champion had breached the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's regulations and his players contract.

O'Sullivan, who was fined £2,000 for the actions and £2,000 for the cost of the hearing, can appeal the decision.

In a statement, WPBSA reminder players of their rules, which state that members should "at all times behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen.

"Members shall not make or cause to be made any statement or commit or cause to be committed any act which in the reasonable view of the WPBSA is likely to bring into disrepute the games of snooker and/or billiards."

Elsewhere, Melbourne's Ash Hugill has learned his qualifying route to UK Championship, which begins on Saturday, November 12.

Hugill will have progress through four rounds of qualifying to the York Barbican, starting against amateur Ryan Davies on Sunday, November 6 (9.30am).

The 28-year-old would then have to overcome Scott Donaldson, Liam Highfield and one of Michael Judge, Dechawat Poomjaeng, Peter Lines or Ali Carter.