Champion Trump beats Robertson to reach UK final

Defending champion Judd Trump reached his fifth UK Championship final with a comfortable 6-3 victory over Neil Robertson in York.

The result means Trump, who has won the title twice, is now just one match away from maintaining his proud record of winning at least one trophy every year since 2013.

Just like their epic final in 2020, which was won 10-9 by Australia’s Robertson, there was little to choose between the players in a see-saw opening.

Trump knocked in two half-centuries, while Robertson compiled a wonderful break of 114, then took a remarkable and protracted fifth frame on the black to lead 3-2.

However, from that point the world number one took control as Robertson – who was playfully booed by fans as he walked out for mimicking cricket shots in reference to England’s toils in the Ashes – made a series of uncharacteristic errors.

Trump capitalised with three half-centuries and then reeled off his fourth consecutive frame with a 53 to book his place in Sunday’s showpiece match against either Mark Selby or Shaun Murphy (13:00 GMT).

«I probably just missed a couple less balls than him. It is great to be back in the final – the last few months and weeks have been a lot more consistent,» Trump told BBC Sport.

«It wasn’t an amazing standard but I did what I needed to do. I feel good about my game.»

Trump will go into the final looking to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the UK crown after Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

And the Englishman looks to be getting back towards his best after openly talking about his struggles to hit top form and find a suitable cue this term.

He reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open in October and the Champion of Champions in November where he lost out to Jack Lisowski and Selby.

He will also be aware that on the two previous occasions he has beaten Robertson at this tournament, he has then gone on to triumph overall.

But when Trump fell 3-2 behind in an extraordinary frame, the momentum had appeared to have shifted towards Robertson, who won the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this term.

«It was a massive frame to go 3-2 [down] but I still felt positive and like I had a good chance,» Trump added.

«A lot of times when you lose a frame like that, your opponent can get carried away like they have done the hard work but luckily for me, he left me in, in the next frame.

«I have been in a few finals recently and it is never nice to be on the losing end. I need to use that as motivation and have the determination to come out on the right end.»