- Trump secured second UK title – 13 years after his first – by beating Hawkins 10-8
- He has also now claimed 30 ranking titles in his career, putting him fourth on list
- Trump paid tribute to Terry Griffiths, 1979 world champion, who has died aged 77
The No1 ranking in the bag, more than £1million in the bank and now the UK Championship trophy in his cabinet.
What a start to the season this has been for Judd Trump, who confirmed his status as the best player on the planet on Sunday night by winning the first Triple Crown event of the campaign.
Trump secured his second UK title – 13 years after his first – by beating 45-year-old qualifier Barry Hawkins 10-8 in a hard-fought final at the York Barbican.
It was his third tournament win of the season, earning him another £250,000 to take his total prize money this term to £1.17m, his most lucrative campaign yet.
Trump, 35, has also now claimed 30 ranking titles in his career, putting him just one behind John Higgins on the all-time list, six off Stephen Hendry and 11 behind record-holder Ronnie O’Sullivan.
‘There is still a long way to go from where I want to be in my career,’ said the Bristolian. ‘I am going to keep trying to knock out the ranking events, get to 50, 60, and set the record.
Judd Trump confirmed his status as the best player on the planet on Sunday night by winning the first Triple Crown event of the campaign
Trump secured his second UK title – 13 years after his first – by beating 45-year-old qualifier Barry Hawkins 10-8
He has also now claimed 30 ranking titles in his career, putting him just one behind John Higgins on the all-time list
‘It has been an amazing season so far, I have won the three biggest tournaments, but it would be nice to complete a clean sweep of the majors this year.’
Trump was far from his fluent best against Hawkins, who was back on the baize just 12 hours after his gruelling 6-5 semi-final win over Mark Allen, which finished at 1am on Sunday morning.
He took a 5-3 lead into the evening session but, despite a break of 133 to move one frame from the title at 9-6, world No20 Hawkins clawed his way back to 9-8 to make the favourite sweat.
Trump, though, was not to be beaten and a break of 67 ultimately got him over the line as a battling Hawkins, who laid snooker after snooker in the last frame, lost his fourth Triple Crown final.
‘I was not enjoying myself in the seat at 9-8, I just wanted it to be over,’ added Trump. ‘I thought this could be the worst loss of all time, so it was pure relief at the end.’
Trump also paid tribute to Terry Griffiths, the 1979 world champion, who has died aged 77. ‘It is terribly sad news. He is a legend of the game.’
