Judd Trump captures second UK Championship crown

Judd Trump secured his second UK Championship title courtesy of a 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins in the final in York on Sunday.

The world number one, whose maiden triumph came in 2011, end a 13-year wait for glory at the York Barbican as he denied a spirited Hawkins in a close-run final.

The 35-year-old becomes the tenth player to win multiple UK Championship titles and takes his career ranking title tally to 30 in the process.

Trump carried a 5-3 lead into the second session of the final, and though Hawkins battled bravely, he was unable to peg back to parity as the Bristol ace closed out victory.

“It was such a hard game. The way Barry battled today considering what happened yesterday was incredible really,” Trump told BBC Sport.

“He made it so hard. He had a chance to go level and the game could have changed. I was not enjoying myself in the seat at 9-8. I just wanted it to be over with.

“Every shot I was snookered and I was thinking, ‘this could be the worst loss of all time’. It’s pure relief.

“The crowd have been absolutely amazing, I hope one day to have as much support as Barry!

“To get over the line, I’m so proud of myself and lucky to be in this position thanks to my family.”

Trump took the opening frame of the match with a break of 73, before Hawkins hit back with a terrific break of 116 to draw level.

Trump regained the upper-hand and looked to be heading for a 3-1 lead at the interval, but only for Hawkins to overturn a 69-point deficit with a granite 70 clearance for two apiece.

Trump, however, responded in style with three consecutive frames, including a break of 102, to open up a 5-2 advantage, before Hawkins stopped the rot with an 81 break in the last frame of the afternoon.

A 62 break saw Trump restore a three-frame cushion after the restart, but Hawkins dug deep to clinch three of the next four frames to trail 7-6.

Trump steadied the ship with a 53 break en route to sealing frame 14, before compiling the highest break of the match – a 133 – to move within one of glory at 9-6.

Hawkins, though, replied with back-to-back breaks of 75 and 82 to reduce the deficit to just one frame, but was unable to force a decider as Trump made a crucial 67 break to help him over the line.

Hawkins admitted: “It’s been a good week, I’ve beaten some great players and I’ve lost to the best player in the world at the moment.

“He’s such a fantastic player, his all round game is phenomenal. It’s no disgrace losing to that man over there. I’ll keep fighting.”

The £250,000 winner’s cheque means Trump has now racked up more than £1.8m on his rolling ranking total and could become the first player to surpass the £2million mark.

His tally of 30 ranking titles is bettered only by Ronnie O’Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36) and John Higgins (31).