December 1st 2024.
The UK Championship final in York was a sight to behold as snooker giants Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins battled it out in a thrilling match on Sunday. It was a rematch of sorts, with Trump emerging victorious for the second time in this prestigious tournament.
Both players had to overcome incredibly tough opponents to reach the final, making their showdown even more impressive. Trump had to defeat the likes of Neil Robertson, John Higgins, and world champion Kyren Wilson, while Hawkins took down Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dave Gilbert, Shaun Murphy, and Mark Allen.
The final started off with a bang, with Trump taking the first frame with a break of 73, followed by a stunning break of 116 from Hawkins in the next. The afternoon session ended with Trump leading 5-3, thanks to a brilliant 102 break from the world number one, but Hawkins stayed in the game with an 81 break in the final frame.
The evening session saw Trump maintain his lead as he moved to a 9-6 advantage, seemingly on his way to an easy victory. However, Hawkins refused to give up and fought back with nerveless breaks of 75 and 82, bringing the score to 9-8 and keeping the final alive.
But it was Trump who ultimately prevailed, thanks to a missed red by Hawkins in the 18th frame. The world number one made no mistake and sealed his victory with another impressive break to claim his second UK Championship title, 13 years after his first.
In an interview with the BBC, Trump praised his opponent's resilience, saying "The way Barry battled today considering what happened yesterday was incredible." Hawkins had to play his grueling semi-final against Mark Allen until 1am on Sunday, making his performance in the final even more impressive.
Hawkins also had kind words for Trump, acknowledging his talent and calling him "the best player in the world at the moment." He also highlighted Trump's all-round game as "phenomenal" and expressed no shame in losing to such a great player.
With this win, Trump solidifies his position as the Player of the Season so far, adding another title to his impressive collection. He takes home a grand prize of £250,000, while Hawkins walks away with £100,000 as the runner-up.
For Hawkins, the search for a first Triple Crown title continues, while Trump adds to his already impressive tally of five titles, including two UK Championships, two Masters, and one World Championship. He also won the first ever Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this season, earning him the nickname "The Fourth Major" due to its massive £500,000 prize.
With such a dominant performance, Trump remains the world number one, solidifying his position as one of the greatest snooker players of all time.
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