Judd Trump takes UK Snooker title after York thriller

The 22-year-old declared he fears no one after holding off a determined fightback from Mark Allen to triumph 10-8 and claim his first major ranking success with the game’s second biggest tournament.

Trump, who at one point in the final won seven frames in a row, held his nerve to win with a 91 clearance after the Ulsterman whittled away an 8-3 lead to 9-8 and believes his victory, achieved while not playing in top gear, can be a springboard to greater success.

“Before this tournament, I said that no one can really dominate the game, but playing this week has probably changed my mind,” he said. “Having not played great all week, to pull off the wins I have, is going to bring more confidence and a few of the players are getting on a bit now. There’s a big gap to the younger players.”

Trump saw off Dominic Dale, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Maguire and Neil Robertson before beating Allen and crowning a fantastic year which also saw him get to the final of the World Championships in May.

“It was an unbelievable feeling to win this tournament,” Trump added of his Barbican boost. “I really needed to step up my game and I did it.

“I think if I play my game I can beat anyone. I think a few players I have beaten this week have criticised me but they all know my weaknesses and strengths and if they can’t beat me like that – not playing great – then hopefully, when I start playing well, I can beat them easier.”

But the Bristolian paid tribute to Allen, saying of the Northern Irishman’s superb comeback: “He just did not miss a ball. His safety was good so I was finding it hard to get in. In the end I had to pull off a good clearance under pressure. It was like playing a machine.

“It was like he was on repeat. I looked at him and it just didn’t seem like he was going to miss so I knew I had to take my chance and, if it went 9-9, he was probably a big favourite to win.”

A disappointed Allen said: “I played well towards the end and all credit to Judd for the middle part of the match. He played so well. He didn’t really give me much of a chance. I didn’t feel I had played that badly to be three behind.

“I showed the form that was there towards the end of the match. I was just hoping for a chance. The long red I took on in the last frame, I knew it was the only one I could leave and, unfortunately, it landed over the pocket.

“Judd still had to pot the rest and he did that very well.”

He added: “It just shows how good a player Judd is. He’s very good at reeling off frames in very little time. It was just about trying to believe in yourself. I’m disappointed because I came here to win the tournament and I haven’t done that but, if someone had given me runner-up before I started I probably would have taken it with the way I have been going.”