Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

UK Championship snooker LIVE: Score and updates as Judd Trump trails Neil Robertson

World No 1 Trump and 24-time ranking event winner Robertson meet in York for a mouthwatering best-of-11 encounter

Luke Baker
Tuesday 26 November 2024 11:21 EST
Comments
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson are squaring off in the first round of the UK Championship
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson are squaring off in the first round of the UK Championship (Nigel French/PA Wire)

Two of snooker’s biggest stars will meet in the first round of the UK Championship this afternoon as Judd Trump and Neil Robertson square off in a mouthwatering best-of-11 clash in York.

The pair have won 53 ranking titles between them during their trophy-laden careers to date and Trump is currently world No 1 after winning a remarkable seven tournaments in the past 15 months.

The one minor blip on the 35-year-old Englishman’s incredible CV is the fact he ‘only’ has four victories at snooker’s triple crown events (the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters) and he is trying to win this tournament at the Barbican Centre for just the second time, after his 2011 success.

Meanwhile, Robertson is a three-time UK champion but had to come through qualifying to reach York, having dropped out of the world’s top 16. That does mean the 42-year-old Australian is nicely tuned up to face the world No 1, who he beat 6-4 in the Champion of Champions event two weeks ago to avenge a loss at the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this season.

Follow all the action below with our live blog:

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Not a great positional shot from green to brown by Robertson and that means he can’t get nicely on the blue to get up for the tricky pink tucked to the top cushion.

A bit of cue power and this is a very tough pink. He trails 62-56 and if he misses it, he’ll leave it for Trump... HE MISSES IT! The pink rattles in the jaws and rolls away from the pocket. Trump back to the table but with a tough pot on the pink himself.

He plays safe, so this battle on the pink is vital now. Trump just needs the pink, Robertson needs pink and black to win the frame.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:21

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Trump can’t afford any mistakes from here but there’s one! A poor positional shot from yellow to green and he misses the cut back on the green.

Robertson trails 44-62 but if he clears the remaining colours he’ll nick this frame...

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:18

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Lucky for Robertson! His safety shot sees the white trickling towards the yellow pocket but it stops right on the brink! An in-off there would’ve been a disaster. Good response by Trump to snooker Robertson on both reds.

Trump gets first look at a red but misses the pot to left middle as the red bounces off the knuckle. A disappointed groan from the crowd. But a couple of shots later, Trump pots a red to the yellow pocket.

The final red is unappetisingly tight to the side cushion but Trump makes the cannon and this is a great chance to win the frame now.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:16

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Robertson pots the opening red but can’t land nicely on a colour so immediately has to play safe. Two reds left and we’re locked at 44-44 - this is huge frame for both men now.- Whoever wins this safety battle and pots the next red becomes a big favourite in the frame.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:12

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Ah, but it may have just gone wrong for Judd. The cue ball runs awry after he pots a blue to move 44-43 ahead, it’s tucked tightly to the green making a pot ona red very tough with hampered cueing.

He goes for a long red to he right corner but it ratles the jaws and it’s break over. Trump leads by a single point wih three reds left and Robertson has a red to get him going. This would be a hammer blow if he takes this frame.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:11

Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Both men have had chances in frame five but Judd Trump looks to be taking his. Robertson leads 43-0 when he comes to the table but the Englishman makes his highest break of he match when he passes 30!

A stunning shot from yellow goes around the angles and frees a cluster of three reds - that’s more like the Judd Trump we know. He’s approaching Robertson’s score in this frame.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 16:09

WATCH: Neil Robertson knocks in century to lead 3-1

Here’s how Neil Robertson wrapped up that century before the mid-session interval.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 15:53

John Higgins 6-0 He Guoqiang

On the other table, John Higgins has hammered Chinese youngster He Guoqiang, who is making his debut at this stage of the UK Championship, 6-0.

Consumate performance from Higgins and he’ll face the winner of Trump v Robertson in the last 16.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 15:40

CENTURY AND FRAME ROBERTSON! Judd Trump 1-3 Neil Robertson

Robertson still not quite at his smooth best but takes this opportunity, working around the blue, pink and black to cruise over the line with a few reds to spare.

He’ll be 3-1 up at the interval but can he make a century for good measure? The final red looks is tied up with the black but a glorious shot from the pink, screwing back of two cushions and arcing the cue ball into the red frees it up to be potted.

The ton beckons now and he reaches the milestone with the final pink before adding the black for a 107 clearance. Good stuff from the Aussie

Neil Robertson wins frame 4 and leads 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

(Nigel French/PA Wire)
Luke Baker26 November 2024 15:38

Judd Trump 1-2 Neil Robertson

Some granite safety from both men but eventually Robertson gets the opportunity and pulls out a long pot to the right corner. The reds are absolutely waiting for him here - he should wrap the frame up at this visit.

Luke Baker26 November 2024 15:32

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in