Judd Trump beats Barry Hawkins in tense UK Championship final to end Triple Crown hoodoo
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Judd Trump has ended his long wait for a second UK Championship title after holding off a spirited fightback from Barry Hawkins.
The 45-year-old was playing in the first UK Championship of his career having earned impressive wins over Ronnie O'Sullivan, Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen.
Trump, who reached the UK Championship final in 2014 and 2020, recorded an emphatic win over world champion Kyren Wilson to set up the match with Hawkins.
It was clear from the outset that it was going to be a close contest between the two with nothing separating them after four frames.
Judd Trump has clinched his second UK Championship title
PA
Hawkins then missed a great opportunity in the fifth to take the lead for the first time in the final as Trump capitalised and opened up a two-frame advantage.
The 35-year-old was far from his top form, but he was managing to do enough to keep Hawkins at arms length for most of the match.
A huge century break from Trump in the 15th frame saw him move just one away with a 9-6 lead.
But Hawkins made no mistake of golden opportunities in the next two frames with breaks of 75 and 86 to move back within one frame of his rival.
With the reds spread out, Hawkins appeared in control of the 18th frame after a break of 20 before a red aimed for the middle pocket bounced back out.
Hawkins cut a devastated figure as he returned to his chair, fully aware that Trump had every chance of wrapping up the match for good.
Trump got up to a break of 67, but then missed a long red that left Hawkins needing snookers to stay in the match.
Both players pulled out all the stops with some sensational safety and recovery play with Hawkins getting the better of his rival at one stage.
Barry Hawkins pushed Judd Trump all the way
PA
Hawkins was successful with one snooker, leaving him 37 behind with 35 remaining.
Sensing the need to change tact, Hawkins potted the last red, the black and the yellow before sticking the cue ball behind the black to leave Trump with a tricky escape shot.
But Trump once again managed to get out of it with a sporting tap of the table from Hawkins to acknowledge his opponent's shot.
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Judd Trump is now a five-time Triple Crown winner
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Trump appeared to have an answer for everything Hawkins was throwing at him and eventually the latter ran out of room to get the required snooker.
A mistake on the brown left Trump with a long shot for match ball, but he showed his nerve by striking it into the heart of the pocket, letting out a fist bump as his fifth Triple Crown title was confirmed.
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