Snooker

And Barry is back to just one behind.

Once again he needed a couple of chances and he's being helped by some really poor play from Judd but he's taking those chances.

7-6 Trump.

Back to two in front.

Wasn't clinical by any means from Judd but he gets over the line, was made to work for it with Barry carrying on for snookers with the last five remaining colours.

8-6 Trump.

Just one away now.

An 11th century of the tournament, which is just staggering. And this was a lovely break, made possible by a really nice shot off the blue to split the reds. More worryingly for Hawkins is it looks like Judd is starting to find his best form (again).

9-6 Trump.

Hawkins will not go away.

A really well constructed 70 odd break that takes him to just two away.

Trump 9-7.

The Hawk pulls one back to 9-7. Had it not been for the exhausting semi Hawkins went through it might be a different score. But it's not over yet. The Hawk is in and on the pink..now on the black..good chance here..Judd sat down..The Hawk on 31 and it's good table..50 up..61-9...on the black..69..frame over..9-8

And still Barry won't go away.

He's pulled another one back to trail just by one. A really nice break of 81 as he continues his fightback.

9-8 Trump.

Judd has to stay cool.The Hawk pilling on the pressure. Judd not at his best but Judd can produce a break from very little but he might go for one trying to get it over with. Great battle..left one on for Judd..missed..red for the Hawk..then the pink..it's a chance but can't miss or else..go into the pack...nothing easy..missed..Judd must be in now..not a bad table..Judd can win it here..but..black's off it's spot..up for the blue..just on a red..up to baulk..good position now..going for the black..vital shot...in..looking good..black on pink spot..but Judd is going along nicely..

Gets position off this black and it could be all over..on the pink..still in good position..have to go up for the blue..looking like the end for The Hawk..battled well but Judd just a bit too good..needs snookers now..misses the red..one snooker to tie..have to take the blue..2 snookers required..great snooker behind the pink..good hit..tight snooker.....Judd snookered..missed..still needs one snooker..got one but easy hit for Judd..Hawk takes red & black..still needing one snooker..on the green..trying to get behind black..and he gets a good one..
but gets one..hit it..Judd goes to pot the green..no plays safe..
Judd hits..pink and black in good snookering positions but Judd goes for the Green...misses..tense battle here..Judd splits pink & black..not easy to get a snooker now..

The Hawk still needs one snooker and he gets one..nearly knocked the black in..Hawk pots the green in error but still not out of it..gets a good one..not an easy hit..pushing Judd..but he hits..chance for Judd..not an easy pot..misses..Hawk plays safe..Judd massive favourite..big chance for Judd..brown goes in..and that's it..

Judd wins the UK. But great battle by The Hawk. 10-8.

The Hawk won a lot more fans but yes Judd is the best in the world. On to The Masters..

What a frame of snooker.

Congratulations Judd Trump on winning the UK Championship

He's been without doubt the stand out player of the tournament. 11 centuries prove that including three in that opening session against Zhang where he played snooker as well as I remember seeing. As well as the one that clinched the match against Higgins, which also showed great bottle.

And what a run of matches he had, former World champs in Robertson and Higgins to start his tournament, then the man who hit the maximum in Zhang, then the current World champ Kyren Wilson in the semis. He's certainly earned this win.

A third title of the season in his fifth final. A 30th ranking title in total.

People may question that he hasn't won the "big" ones often enough (one World title, one UK before this and two Masters) but nobody can deny he is a winner. And now he's won the UK Championship again, you wouldn't put it past him winning either the Masters or World's as well this season - if not both.

He held Barry off at arms length ever since getting that lead in the early few frames. It was just always too difficult for Barry to get back level.

But credit to Barry Hawkins. He's yet again reached a Triple Crown final and run into the best player in the world. He done it twice with O'Sullivan, once in the World's and once in the Masters. And then again tonight. Such a nice fella who deserves more than he's won. But this run to the final has got him back into the top 16 and that means a place in the Masters, where he'll face Trump in the opening round.

Barry had a really tough campaign as well, facing O'Sullivan up first, former World champ Shaun Murphy in the quarters and the man who started the season as World number one, Mark Allen, in the semi finals. On top of that, he faced an in-form Trump in the final. And all credit to him, he never once gave up. He kept fighting right to the end.

Up next is the Shoot Out, which starts on Wednesday. Trump won't be in it but Hawkins is scheduled to play Shaun Murphy in the first round in arguably the pick of the matches.

Bit of sad news for the snooker world today as 1979 World champ Terry Griffiths passed away last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfaQA98OAvk

Like him or loathe him..what a cueist. Brilliant 147. Under performed a bit in recent times but still a fantastic player.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but the finals night of the Shoot Out is just about to begin.

It'll start with the last 16 matches and end with the final. It's being shown on Eurosport.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but the finals night of the Shoot Out is just about to begin.

It'll start with the last 16 matches and end with the final. It's being shown on Eurosport.

I dont mind it being lively. Its the shouting for the sake of it and the heckling i dont like and the 'boring' nonsense. Its almost like taking kids in a sweet shop and telling them just this once they can have as much as they want

I dont mind it being lively. Its the shouting for the sake of it and the heckling i dont like and the 'boring' nonsense. Its almost like taking kids in a sweet shop and telling them just this once they can have as much as they want

Pretty much how I feel about it mate.

The actual format I don't mind but the crowd are just gobshites because they're allowed to be. And it seems like every year they're trying to live up to the reputation of being "lively". They're not even funny shouts that they make.

Pretty much how I feel about it mate.

The actual format I don't mind but the crowd are just gobshites because they're allowed to be. And it seems like every year they're trying to live up to the reputation of being "lively". They're not even funny shouts that they make.

Yeah i like the format. Its exciting. They cant seem to even show any respect for the young lads ... nothing really on this for the big boys but it can make such a difference for these young lads and other players ...

The darts can be lively with everyone having a bevvy but as you say this seems to get worse every year and it takes away from what is a unique event that i enjoy

Congratulations Tom Ford on winning the Shoot Out

A maiden ranking title for the Rob Walker look-a-like and in front of his hometown "fans".

He's reached a final in each of the last two seasons, the German Masters in 23 and the International Championship last season so he's continuing that good form and this time has been able to get over the line. He's had a poor season so far and a really poor last few months, not even qualifying for four of the last five events so this win has come at just the right time for him. And he'll be hoping this can kickstart his season and hopefully open the door to more titles down the line.

A place in the Champion of Champions next year is guaranteed and now has a chance of getting himself into the Grand Prix.

It's disappointing for Liam Graham, who really could have done with the victory just to give him a chance of keeping his tour card because he's in real danger of dropping off this season. But at the age of 20, I'm sure he'll be back even if he does fall off.

Up next is the Scottish Open, which starts on Monday - where Liam Graham has failed to qualify for his home tournament and Tom Ford is scheduled to play Antoni Kowalski who also had a nice showing in the Shoot Out.

Congratulations Lei Peifan on winning the Scottish Open

Due to us not having any internet for the past week or so, I didn't get to watch anywhere near enough of this tournament to comment on it but I will say what a massive achievement it is for Peifan, who started the week at World number 88. I read he was the lowest ranked player since 1993 to win a ranking event.

There's some tournament in Saudi starting today and finishing up over the weekend before the Masters kicks off the year of 2025 on the 12th January.

Ronnie has withdrawn from the Masters and will be replaced by Neil Robertson.

Apparently chucked his cue in the bin after losing to Robert Milkins in that weird champions league format nobody watches and didn't take part in the rest of the competition.

Ronnie has withdrawn from the Masters and will be replaced by Neil Robertson.

Shame, man. Was looking forward to watching him in this

Time to strap in for the week and enjoy a weeks worth of snooker.

Well what a way to kick off this year's Masters.

Robertson takes the opening frame, then John Higgins wins five on the spin to move within one of victory and in the process limited Robertson to just 16 points during those five frames.

Robertson fights back with four consecutive frames of his own to take us to a deciding frame and in the process, he limited Higgins to just 28 points in frame eight and scoreless in the other three.

And the deciding frame was won by Neil Robertson. Higgins got in first but broke down on 35, which left the Aussie a good chance to get his nose in front for the frame. An unfortunate in-off and a poor safety followed from Higgins, which left Robertson the chance he needed to clinch the frame and match.

6-5 Robertson.