Two of snooker’s biggest stars will meet in the first round of the UK Championship this afternoon as Judd Trump and Neil Robertson square off in a mouthwatering best-of-11 clash in York.
The pair have won 53 ranking titles between them during their trophy-laden careers to date and Trump is currently world No 1 after winning a remarkable seven tournaments in the past 15 months.
The one minor blip on the 35-year-old Englishman’s incredible CV is the fact he ‘only’ has four victories at snooker’s triple crown events (the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters) and he is trying to win this tournament at the Barbican Centre for just the second time, after his 2011 success.
Meanwhile, Robertson is a three-time UK champion but had to come through qualifying to reach York, having dropped out of the world’s top 16. That does mean the 42-year-old Australian is nicely tuned up to face the world No 1, who he beat 6-4 in the Champion of Champions event two weeks ago to avenge a loss at the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this season.
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CENTURY AND FRAME TRUMP! Judd Trump 4-3 Neil Robertson
This is more like the Judd Trump we expected – from 3-1 down, he’s steadily improved and taken control of this match. Does Neil Robertson have any answers to this barrage?
A nice plant by Trump takes the break beyond 70 points, wraps up the frame and now he’ll try to make the century. The last red is tight on the left cushion and his brilliantly cuts it into the yellow pocket to keep the break alive. Exhibition stuff! HE COMPLETES THE CENTURY WITH THE YELLOW and goes on to make a clearance of 126.
Judd Trump wins frame seven and leads for the first time at 4-3.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 17:03
Judd Trump 3-3 Neil Robertson
Trump frees up the pink early in the break with a cannon which gives him another option and his lead soon approaches 40 points. He’s just heating up in this match when it matters most, as you might expect from the world No 1.
He stays clean as the break passes the 50 mark, pulling out a nice flick on a red to move it out of the way and leave him a pot on the black. He might need one more cannon on a later reds but that’s the only issue that could stop him winning this frame now.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 17:00
Judd Trump 3-3 Neil Robertson
Trump breaks the stalemate with a long plant to the bottom left corner. The reds are nicely spread although the pink and black are now tied up, so he’ll be working with the blue.
He’ll still hope to build a useful lead.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:55
Judd Trump 3-3 Neil Robertson
A bit of VAR action at the York Barbican as Trump isn’t sure if he just flicked the green ball with the tip of his cue as he played the white into the pack of reds.
Very honest from Judd to potentially call a foul on himself and both players and the referee huddle round the TV camera to view a replay. There’s nothing conclusive, so no foul given and we play on.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:52
FRAME TRUMP! Judd Trump 3-3 Neil Robertson
Trump slowly but surely seems to be finding his stride in this match. There are no real dramas as he passes the threshold to leave Robertson needing snookers at 52 ahead with 51 points remaining
A nice pot on the black follows and Robertson will stay in his seat now. The final break is 73 and Judd Trump wins frame six to move level at 3-3.
This is essentially a best-of-five match now.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:42
Judd Trump 2-3 Neil Robertson
Both players look very unhappy with the state of the table. Uneven bounces off the cushion and it appears to be playing heavy, making it hard to get the desired spin on the cue ball.
It means Trump has a couple of tough pots in his break but he keeps on rolling and the contribution passes 30. He pots a red to move to 35 and opens up the cluster of remaining reds in the centre of the table – nice shot. This is a good chance to win the frame at this visit.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:37
Judd Trump 2-3 Neil Robertson
Robertson misses a pot by quite a distance and the red rolls over the middle pocket to give Trump a simple starter. He then cannons into the pack from the blue, dislodges a few reds and lands nicely on one.
Decent points-scoring opportunity here for the world No 1.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:34
Judd Trump 2-3 Neil Robertson
Robertson gets a look at a long pot from Trump’s break-off but makes a mess of it and leaves the cue ball down the business end of the table. But Trump misses his long red to the green pocket in response! Let-off for Robertson!
He then makes a pot to the right corner but the break soon ends on just seven when he cannons into the black and knocks it safe.
Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:32