Judd Trump captured the 2024 UK Championship crown on Sunday after sealing a 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins in the final in York.
The world number one was never behind in the title-deciding affair, but he was made to work hard for his success at the Barbican Centre.
Trump began the contest with a break of 73 to take the opening frame, before Hawkins responded with a terrific 116 contribution to restore parity.
After losing the third frame, Hawkins pinched the fourth with a 70 clearance and didn’t appear to have any hangover from his post-midnight semi-final exploits with Mark Allen the night before.
But Trump began to exert a measure of control after the first mid-session interval, scoring a 102 century break in the middle of a three-frame winning sequence to lead 5-2.
It looked like that was going to become 6-2, but a timely 81 clearance from Hawkins kept him in touch going into the evening session.
When play resumed, the 45 year-old won two out of the first three frames to reduce his arrears to just one.
Yet Trump, who already won the Shanghai Masters and Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters titles this term, was ultimately able to keep his opponent at arm’s length and parity was never restored.
Breaks of 68, 53, and 133 helped the 35 year-old to move to within the brink of glory at 9-6 in front.
Hawkins, who was chasing a maiden Triple Crown title in what was his fourth appearance in a final of such status, responded with runs of 75 and 82.
Trump, however, scored a crucial break of 67 in the 18th and what proved to be the final frame to move past the winning line.
It marks the second time that Trump has got his hands on the UK Championship trophy, coming a long 13 years after his first success in 2011.
Since then, the Bristol potter has been denied twice in deciding frames amid persistent claims that he wasn’t able to perform frequently enough in the major events.
This triumph takes his tally of Triple Crown trophies to five, which is still short of the number a player of his talent should boast but at least is moving in the right direction again.
“It was such a hard game,” Judd Trump, who has incredibly amassed 30 ranking titles, said in his post-match interview with Hazel Irvine.
“The way Barry battled today considering what happened yesterday was incredible, so fair play to Barry. He made it so hard for me.”
“He had a chance to probably go level, and the game could have changed. But even towards the end, I was leaving him half-chances – he was potting them and clearing them every time.
“I wasn’t enjoying myself in the seat at 9-8, I just wanted it to be over with. Every shot, I was snookered. I was just thinking that this could be the worst loss of all time.
“It’s just pure relief. It’s been an amazing tournament for me, I’ve played some really good stuff. I’ve battled through.
“The crowds have been absolutely amazing. I hope one day to have as much support as Barry.
“It’s right up there [in importance] just because of how long I’ve had to wait. It’s been 13 years, so it’s not easy to win these events.
“It’s extremely difficult. I’ve played brilliant a lot of times, and I’ve still come up just short.
“To do it in the manner I’ve done it – probably one of the hardest draws of all time to win this event – I’m so proud of myself. I’m lucky to be in this position thanks to my family.
“There’s still a long way to go from where I want to be in my career, but I think moments like this as you get older, you appreciate even more.
“I’m so happy to be able to get over the line after losing 10-9 the last two times in this final, and in front of this amazing auditorium.”
For Hawkins, it was to be a disappointing climax to what had been an outstanding week having ousted the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, and Mark Allen en route to the final.
He now possesses an undesirable record of being the only player in snooker history to play in all three Triple Crown finals without ever emerging with a title from the series.
Hawkins will at least have another opportunity next month having forced his way back into the top 16, securing an invitation to the Masters in the process.
Unfortunately for the Hawk, he’ll have to face Trump again at the Alexandra Palace, a venue in which the latter has prevailed twice before.
A constant presence at the business end of tournaments and the most prolific winner on the tour across the last few years, it would not be a surprise to see Judd Trump challenge for major honours in London as well.
2024 UK Championship draw and schedule
Round 1 (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 Barry Hawkins
Xiao Guodong 4-6 David Gilbert
Shaun Murphy 6-5 Zhao Xintong
Ding Junhui 6-5 Robert Milkins
Mark Selby 4-6 Jack Lisowski
Ali Carter 6-4 Ryan Day
Si Jiahui 4-6 Wu Yize
Mark Allen 6-4 Jackson Page
Judd Trump 6-3 Neil Robertson
John Higgins 6-0 He Guoqiang
Zhang Anda 6-3 Lei Peifan
Mark Williams 5-6 Stuart Bingham
Luca Brecel 5-6 Jak Jones
Gary Wilson 1-6 Michael Holt
Chris Wakelin 6-4 Matthew Selt
Kyren Wilson 6-0 Stephen Maguire
Round 2 (bo11)
Barry Hawkins 6-5 David Gilbert
Shaun Murphy 6-5 Ding Junhui
Jack Lisowski 6-4 Ali Carter
Wu Yize 4-6 Mark Allen
Judd Trump 6-5 John Higgins
Zhang Anda 6-5 Stuart Bingham
Jak Jones 5-6 Michael Holt
Chris Wakelin 2-6 Kyren Wilson
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Barry Hawkins 6-2 Shaun Murphy
Jack Lisowski 3-6 Mark Allen
Judd Trump 6-2 Zhang Anda
Michael Holt 3-6 Kyren Wilson
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Barry Hawkins 6-5 Mark Allen
Judd Trump 6-2 Kyren Wilson
Final (bo19)
Barry Hawkins 8-10 Judd Trump
Featured photo credit: WST
After this excellent win, it’s time to elevate Judd Trump to your Black tier in the Player Profiles, David.
Indeed, done! He is a deserving addition to the Black tier. I really need to properly update that Player Profiles section and add to it again sometime, though.
Judd sets a new record for the longest gap between UK titles -13 years surpasses the previous record of 10 held jointly by Ding Junhui and John Higgins.
One of the most memorable UK finals. It would make my all-time top five of ones I’ve seen. The quality was very good and Hawkins’ late rally gave us a pulsating finish. Last night’s atmosphere at the Barbican was electric, considerably partial to Hawkins.
Ali Carter is the only other player to have lost four Triple Crown finals without winning one.
Trump’s haul of five Triple Crown titles is a little under par but I do believe the criticism he receives is a little excessive. He’s been winning big titles for 13 years and has five of the ‘big 3’. Neil Robertson first won a ranking event in 2006 and only has one more. Mark Selby on nine but he’s been at the top for about three years longer than Trump. That said, Trump is the best player I’ve witnessed in terms of standard, aside from O’Sullivan, making five seem a little light given his dominant spells in the last five or six years.
I’ll also be stunned if David Caulfield doesn’t name Trump as the Player of the Year when he dishes out his yearly accolades just after Christmas! Trump has now garnered five titles in 2024 and still has two more opportunities for his CV to be embellished with further silverware.
All in good time, Jay.