Judd Trump sinks battling Barry Hawkins to pick up UK Championship

Judd Trump had to put in extra effort to finally capture his second UK Championship title after a hard-fought battle against the determined Barry Hawkins in York, ending a 13-year wait for the victory.

Trump remained seated as Hawkins clinched two consecutive frames, narrowing the gap to just one. However, the world number one took advantage of a missed red from Hawkins, scoring a 67 break that ultimately secured him a 10-8 victory.

Hawkins wasn't finished yet; he managed to secure one of the two snookers he needed in a tense safety clash that had Trump worried. “I wasn't having a good time sitting there at 9-8,” Trump reflected in his post-match interview. “I was worried this could turn into the worst defeat ever, so I’m just incredibly relieved now.”

Trump celebrated his success just before the announcement of the passing of former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths, who died at 77. He shared with Mail Online, "This is truly heartbreaking news. He was a true icon in the sport. Terry had a great sense of humor... I always felt a strong bond with him."

Sunday’s tough-won success marked Trump’s first UK title since 2011 and also his 30th tournament victory in a career that continues to shine. The 35-year-old had found it challenging to match his previous win in this prestigious tournament, despite reaching the finals twice more since then.

Although Trump never really found his best form, he managed to deliver several crucial plays that allowed him to hold off Hawkins. Hawkins had made an impressive comeback to defeat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round and nearly achieved a similar turnaround in a tense finish.

Hawkins, who has now been a runner-up in four Triple Crown finals, remarked, “If someone had told me I would make it to the final, I would have been pleased with that, but once you’re there, all you want is to win. I’ve managed to defeat some really strong opponents this week, but ultimately I lost to the best player in the world right now. He’s an incredible talent, and there’s no shame in that.”

The crucial turning point happened early in the 15th frame. Hawkins had managed to stay close to his opponent at 8-7, thanks to a number of his rival's mistakes. However, he made a careless safety shot, which allowed Trump to step in and deliver an impressive 133 break, bringing him just one frame away from winning the match.

Just when it seemed like victory was within reach for Trump, he found himself stuck in his seat as Hawkins delivered a courageous 75, narrowing the score to 9-7. Following that, Hawkins played an impressive 82, reigniting hopes of repeating his remarkable victory against O’Sullivan.

Hawkins, who had stayed awake late into the night during his semi-final victory against Mark Allen, appeared full of energy as he opened the scoring in the 18th frame. However, he missed a red ball that would have continued his run after making 20 points, allowing Trump to step in and deliver a crucial break.

In the beginning of the final, it seemed like Trump was going to dominate as he quickly won three frames in a row, giving him a 5-2 advantage. However, Hawkins responded with an impressive break of 81 in the following frame, keeping him in the game as the afternoon session wrapped up. This would shape the story for the evening, where both players showcased moments of great skill along with their fair share of mistakes.

"It was a tough match, and the effort Barry put in today, especially after what happened yesterday, was truly impressive, so hats off to him," Trump remarked. "He had an opportunity to equalize, which could have shifted the momentum of the game. Even towards the end, I was giving him some slight openings, but he managed to capitalize on each one."

"It's been 13 years, and winning these competitions is never simple. I've played exceptionally well on many occasions and still fell short, so to achieve it the way I have, facing what is likely one of the toughest draws ever, makes me incredibly proud."