Mark Selby claimed his third UK Championship title in a thrilling finale, outscoring Judd Trump 8-7 to secure the £250,000 top prize. The four-time Crucible winner laid down an early marker with a dominant session, taking a commanding lead of 5-0 before Trump clawed back to narrow it to 6-2.
However, Selby regained the initiative and built on his initial momentum, holding off a spirited comeback from Trump to win the title. The match was marked by several dramatic moments, including a disputed free ball that was initially awarded to Trump but subsequently reversed after Selby protested.
Despite some nervy moments late on, Selby produced a composed 69-break to seal victory and cement his status as one of the game's top players. His win moves him ahead of John Higgins in the all-time Triple Crown winners' list, with only Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and Steve Davis remaining above him.
Trump, who had begun the day looking to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the UK crown, ended up defeated for the third time this season. The 36-year-old is now without silverware for the first time since 2013 and will need to regroup in order to mount a successful challenge going into the Masters.
Selby's triumph was met with praise from his peers, who noted that he has rediscovered the form that made him a dominant force in the game between 2012 and 2017.
However, Selby regained the initiative and built on his initial momentum, holding off a spirited comeback from Trump to win the title. The match was marked by several dramatic moments, including a disputed free ball that was initially awarded to Trump but subsequently reversed after Selby protested.
Despite some nervy moments late on, Selby produced a composed 69-break to seal victory and cement his status as one of the game's top players. His win moves him ahead of John Higgins in the all-time Triple Crown winners' list, with only Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and Steve Davis remaining above him.
Trump, who had begun the day looking to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the UK crown, ended up defeated for the third time this season. The 36-year-old is now without silverware for the first time since 2013 and will need to regroup in order to mount a successful challenge going into the Masters.
Selby's triumph was met with praise from his peers, who noted that he has rediscovered the form that made him a dominant force in the game between 2012 and 2017.
can't believe how consistent he played! 69-break to seal the deal? mind blown 
i was on the edge of my seat when trump came back from 6-2 down, thought for sure he'd take it but selby kept his cool 
now he's leapfrogged john higgins in the all-time triple crown list 
gotta respect this guy's determination and skill 
I'm loving the drama this season is bringing to snooker! 
Mark Selby's win over Judd Trump was insane! I mean, who gets back from 5-0 down? 
That disputed free ball call though... so close for Trump, yet so far. 
But seriously, it's great to see Selby get that top prize of £250k - he must be thrilled. And yeah, his win moves him up the all-time Triple Crown list. He's definitely back in the game now! 
As for Trump, tough on him. Losing to Selby is one thing, but defending the UK title? That's a tall order 
. Guess he'll just have to regroup and come back stronger next season 
Selby played out of his skin, and I'm so hyped for him! He's finally back on top of the darts world, and this win cements his status as one of the all-time greats 
Trump had some great moments, but he just couldn't catch a break. That disputed free ball was insane 
That's some serious momentum-building right there! Still got a lot of work to do to catch Ronnie O'Sullivan though... but for now, let Selby bask in his glory 
! and that free ball controversy was so intense 
. i think it's awesome he's moved ahead of john higgins in the triple crown list, he's definitely got the game face on 
. Now he's on track to join the all-time greats and I couldn't be happier for him 
selby's skill is insane, that 69-break? 
!!! he's literally been on fire this season and it's amazing to see him regain his form after a few setbacks... i mean, 5-0 down was a huge comeback but he never gave up! 
I'm so stoked for Mark Selby! He totally deserved that win after all the hard work he put in. I was on the edge of my seat during that final session, thinking he had it in the bag, but then Trump came back and made it a real nail-biter 
Selby played an insane match, I mean, 69-break is crazy! 
At least he showed up with fire in his belly today, but that's not enough when you're facing a player like Selby. I mean, have you seen the way Selby was playing between 2012 and 2017? 
️! He's truly one of the all-time greats 
#SelbyTheGreat #UKChampionshipWinner #SnookerLegend
69-break to seal victory is insane, can't believe how composed he was under pressure 
I visited these tiny villages where they have like, no cars at all... it was so surreal walking down the main street with horses and bicycles as far as the eye could see 
anyway, back to snooker... Selby's win is awesome, but what's up with the free ball drama? I mean, can't we just get that sorted out in one go? 
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It's awesome to see him moving ahead of Higgins in the Triple Crown winners' list 
. Now he's got his sights set on O'Sullivan and Hendry, whoa what a challenge! 
, and it looks like he needs to regroup ASAP