In a thrilling finale at the World Snooker Tour UK Championship in York, England, Judd Trump clinched his second UK Championship title by defeating Barry Hawkins 10-8 on Sunday. The Englishmen battled fiercely throughout the match, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Trump, who led 5-3 before the final session, quickly extended his advantage to 6-3 with impressive breaks of 62 and 32. However, Hawkins responded with determination, winning two consecutive frames to narrow the gap to 6-5.
Maintaining his composure, Trump secured three of the next four frames, including a pivotal break of 133 in the 12th frame, pushing his lead to 9-6. Yet, Hawkins was not ready to concede. With remarkable breaks of 75 and 82, he edged closer, bringing the score to 9-8.
The tension peaked in the 18th frame as Hawkins sought to force a decider. After a missed red to the left middle pocket, Trump found himself snookered multiple times, with Hawkins extracting four foul points. Despite the pressure, Trump held firm, and Hawkins was unable to secure the second snooker needed to win the frame.
Seizing the moment, Trump potted a long-range brown, sealing his victory and marking his 30th ranking event title. With this win, Trump joins an elite group, with only John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, and Ronnie O’Sullivan having won more ranking events.
“It was so close, and it looked like it could go 9-9,” Trump reflected after the match. “I was under a lot of pressure and knew I had to take that chance because he was playing so well. I slowed myself down and made sure of every single pot. There was no flair at all in that break; I just had to find a way to get the balls in the hole.”
Hawkins acknowledged the intensity of the contest, saying, “It has been a great week. If someone had said I would get to the final beforehand, I would have taken it. Once I was here in the final, I wanted to win. I thought it was a great game. I think I missed the boat tonight; I probably should have leveled.”
Trump’s triumph, coming a decade after his first UK Championship win in 2011, solidifies his position as one of snooker’s leading figures. Fans around the world celebrated his victory, anticipating more exciting matches in the future.
Reference(s):
Judd Trump edges Barry Hawkins to secure his second UK Crown
cgtn.com
