Judd Trump claimed his second UK Championship title with a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins on the Barbican in York.
Solely Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins have received greater than the 35-year-old’s tally of 30 rating titles.
Trump needed to endure a stirring fightback from Hawkins, who fought again from 9-6 to 9-8 and nearly received the 2 snookers he required in a dramatic 18th body to pressure a decider.
“It was such a tough recreation. The way in which Barry battled at this time contemplating what occurred yesterday was unbelievable actually,” Trump informed BBC Sport.
“He made it so onerous. He had an opportunity to go degree and the sport may have modified. I used to be not having fun with myself within the seat at 9-8. I simply wished it to be over with.
“Each shot I used to be snookered and I used to be considering, ‘this may very well be the worst lack of all time’. It’s pure aid.”
Trump, who received his earlier UK crown in 2011, now has 5 Triple Crown titles – the identical quantity as Alex Higgins however 18 fewer than O’Sullivan – having additionally received the Masters twice and the World Championship as soon as in his profession.
The world primary led 5-3 going into Sunday night’s concluding session and knocked in two half-century breaks to retain his two-frame benefit at 7-5 going into the interval.
Hawkins, 45, trying to find his first Triple Crown title 28 years after turning skilled, took the subsequent and regarded well-placed to degree the match at 7-7 earlier than operating out of place, permitting his opponent to tug clear once more.
Trump compiled a elegant break of 133 – his highest of the match – as he opened up a 9-6 lead however a gutsy response noticed Hawkins get pleasure from runs of 75 and 82 earlier than his resistance was lastly damaged as he narrowly missed out on a deciding body.
With Trump securing the £250,000 prime prize, he has now tasted success on the two most profitable rating occasions on the Tour this time period – having additionally triumphed on the Saudi Arabia Masters – to cement his standing on the prime of the world rankings.
Hawkins, who earned £100,000 as runner-up, had been bidding to turn into the oldest first-time winner of a Triple Crown occasion.
Nonetheless, simply pushing Trump shut was fairly a feat, given the 45-year-old started Sunday’s closing barely 12 hours after concluding his semi-final win over Mark Allen.