Trump hangs on to win

In a match of stunning quality, Allen seemed on course to complete a memorable comeback after closing the gap to 9-8 from 8-3 down. However Trump finally made it over the line to take the victory.

Allen made three centuries in four frames in the second session, but Trump's prior knocks of 109, 78 and 74 kept him in front before a 76 put him one frame from victory.

The first four frames of the second session contained outstanding snooker. Trump immediately recorded his first century of the match, a 109, to go 6-3 in front.

In the following frame Allen knocked in a 40, but missed a long red at the top of the table. Trump took full advantage and hit a break of 78, including a tough half-table shot on frame ball before an exhibition shot on the pink rounded it off.

Trump then won his seventh frame in a row as he made a break of 74. At that stage he was averaging a shot every 17 seconds as he played with lightning intensity.

Allen then began his extraordinary comeback as he hit two century breaks in a row either side of the interval.

The first was a 139 at the first visit, clearing the table with a smash on the black. He followed it with a 133 clearance.

At 8-5 the next frame was crucial. Allen was forced into going for a long pot, which he failed to make - and unluckily left an easy red on for Trump. The Bristol potter still had to build a break under pressure, and knocked in a 76 with consummate ease.

But Allen continued his dominant spell. A plant went wrong for his opponent and he got his third century in four frames with a break of 125.

It looked like Trump would take it in the next frame after potting the flukiest of reds, but a mistake just when he had taken a lead allowed Allen to reduce the arrears still further to 9-7.

In the 17th frame Trump streaked ahead to 32, which included a brilliant double into a middle pocket. Allen responded, almost securing yet another century as a 95 break ended with a tricky cut black just missing.

Many players would have wilted in the heat being applied by Allen, but Trump had other ideas. After Allen missed a long red, Trump recorded a run of 76, only missing on the yellow having put the cue ball perfectly in front of the black for championship ball before dispatching.

It was the second ranking title of the 22-year-old's career after his success in China last season.

Judd Trump led Mark Allen 5-3 after a tight opening session of their UK Championship final at the Barbican Centre in York.

Trump grabbed the first frame, but was down by a couple of frames going into the fifth. He turned on the style from there though and reeled off four consecutive frames with breaks of 52, 75 and 61.

It means Allen has everything to do going into this evening’s second session, which will start around 8pm. It’s a best-of-20 match and the performances of both indicate it will be a tight one.

Trump was straight into his rhythm, making a break of 70 in the first frame. With only 67 remaining he missed an easy red to let Allen into the frame, but a straightforward ball failed to sink for Allen and the youngster took his second chance.

Allen started shakily, but he quickly grew in confidence. In the second frame he hit a break of 56, but fell just short of taking the frame after missing an easy red. He received a let-off though as Trump went for a ridiculously tough black.

The first century break of the match came next and it was made by Allen; a wonderful 141 in double-quick time.

The fourth frame was very scrappy. Allen led 57-48 and both players had chances to steal it. It was a case of who made the most mistakes and it turned out to be Trump as he knocked the brown off the table, then hit a poor safety shot, conceding the frame before Allen could even take his shot.

In the final four frames of the session Trump really came into his own. He knocked a 52 in the fifth as he cleared up with ease.

The sixth was also a bit untidy. Allen needed a snooker to take the frame, but failed to tuck the cue ball in behind and Trump took it with a straightforward yellow.

The penultimate frame contained probably Trump’s best break of the tournament as he took it in one visit. Allen knocked a 33, but a reply of 75 containing some amazing potting put him back in the lead for the first time since the opener.

Trump won his fourth consecutive frame and the final of the session, though he very nearly messed it all up. A break of 61 ended when he over cut a simple red to the disbelief of all, including himself. Allen was gnawing away at Trump’s lead, but he was forced into a double on the red and narrowly missed. From there it was simple for the youngster.