Judd Trump v Stephen Maguire live stream | UK Championship 2025 preview
Trump and Maguire collide in York on Saturday (Credit: Calf-Max/Chinaimages/Sipa Usa)
Judd Trump launches his UK Championship title defence on Saturday when he plays Stephen Maguire at the York Barbican Centre.
Trump defeated Barry Hawkins in last year’s final to become the 10th multiple winner of the illustrious major, having also lifted the trophy in 2011.
The Ace now looks to complete a hat-trick in York with what would be his first silverware since going all the way in York 12 months ago.
A good omen is the fact he has reached the final following both his previous victories over Maguire at the UK Championship, in 2011 and 2014 – losing out to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the latter.
Trump was also a beaten finalist five years ago, succumbing 10-9 to Neil Robertson on the final pink, though that represents one of only three ventures beyond the last 16 of this event since reaching the 2014 showpiece.
The world number one has been runner-up at the Northern Ireland Open and Champion of Champions this season while, after reverting to his old cue, he reached the semi-finals at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship last time out.
Maguire, meanwhile, is fresh from beating Chang Bingyu 6-5 and Ian Burns 6-1 to book his place in the final stages of this event.
It is now 21 years since the Maverick made his major breakthrough by winning this tournament, while he has also been runner-up in 2007 and 2019, as well as reaching a further four semi-finals.
However, his run to the 2019 final represents the last time he progressed beyond the last 32 of the UK Championship.
Nevertheless, he does come into this game having already won the Championship League at the start of the season, as well as reaching the International Championship earlier this month.
A last-16 showdown with either world number 16 Si Jiahui or four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day awaits whoever prevails from this encounter.
The match breaks off at 1pm GMT on Saturday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at the York Barbican Centre.
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