Congratulations Judd Trump!
Judd Trump beat Ronnie by 9-7 yesterday in Belfast, in a compelling match where both played well but not quite as well as they had during the week.
Here is the report on Worldsnooker:
Judd Trump claimed his first ranking title in over a year after a stunning 9-7 defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
The momentous victory for Trump is his fourth win in a final over five-time Crucible king O’Sullivan and reduces his head-to-head deficit with the Rocket to 10-9.
This is the ninth ranking title of Trump’s career and ends a trophy drought which extends back to the 2017 European Masters. He is now level with Peter Ebdon and John Parrot in 10th position on the all-time ranking event winner’s list and has moved just one behind Jimmy White’s total of 10 titles.
Defeat for O’Sullivan prevents him from taking home silverware in back-to-back weeks after winning the Champion of Champions in Coventry last Sunday. The Rocket will now turn his attentions to York, where he will seek to defend the UK Championship title he won 12 months ago.
The players were inseparable during a tightly contested afternoon session, where they shared the frames to emerge level at 4-4.
To that point there was never more than a frame between the pair and that pattern continued this evening as they went blow for blow. They reached the mid-session at 6-6 and when they returned it was O’Sullivan who sparked the match into life with a stunning clearance of 134 to move 7-6 ahead.
The Rocket appeared to have the momentum. However, that break jolted Trump into gear and he made a surge for the finishing line. After winning back-to-back frames he powered home with a break of 79 to secure the Alex Higgins Trophy and the £70,000 top prize with a superb 9-7 victory.
“It was tough all day,” said 2011 UK Champion Trump. “I was prepared for facing Ronnie. Against anyone else I would probably have been 6-2 up after the first session. Nobody else clears up after you miss like he does. Tonight it was a little bit different and I was making the clearances after his mistakes.
“This is a massive win. It has been a long time since I won an event. It is nice to get one at the start of the season, which is still quite fresh for me. There is a long way to go and this gives me confidence to carry into some big tournaments coming up.
“A few people have written me off. It was nice to play the sort of snooker I have in the past. Going for my shots, potting everything and clearing up. It is nice to play with a bit of freedom again.”
Despite the loss O’Sullivan was philosophical about his performance this week and in an upbeat mood when conducting his post-match media duties.
O’Sullivan said: “I’m over the moon to be honest. I would have been even if I had lost yesterday. I had a good week, I kept it as competitive as I could and I am enjoying my snooker. I won five ranking titles last season, but I wasn’t enjoying it. I will take what I am doing now all day long rather than last season.”
Ronnie was second best from the start. It would have been great if he had won it, but we have to remember that those guys are humans, not robots. I believe that Ronnie left a lot of mental energy in the semi-finals win over Mark Selby and somehow I wasn’t surprised that his level dropped a bit. There are still a lot of positives to be taken, most notably that he has probably secured his spot in the World Grand Prix 2019.
Despite the loss, he was very positive after the match
As for Judd, it was clear for all to see what it meant to him to win this title, his 9th, after a rather tough year. There were no signs of complacency this week. I think that the criticism he got, and the suggestion that Kyren Wilson could win the World Championship before he does dir really hurt him. He reacted the right way, worked hard, applied himself and this is the result. Congratulations Judd!
Session 1:
The preview:
The action:
First session MSI:
The review:
Session 2, with preview and review:
Second session MSI:
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Mark, I think Ronnie will have a lot of ranking events to equal and to break Hendry’s record. But I believe that Ronnie wants to win much more the Uk or the Masters becoming the player with most Triple Crown events won. He and Hendry are tied at 18. The records of 1.000 centuries and most ranking titles will arrive almost almost spontaneously.
Sad that Ronnie lost, but I suppose that making it to the final was better than losing in the early rounds. I’m sure he wasn’t planning to stick around as long as he did, after winning the CoC the week before. He’s probably pleased that he made it so far without having to expend much energy, at least up until the semi-final.
No doubt that Ronnie spent more energy in his semi-final than Judd did, which presumably worked out in Judd’s favor. Beating Mark Selby felt like it should have been the final, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ronnie didn’t have much left in the tank after that.
As successful as Ronnie’s season has been thus far, it’s a bit disappointing that he hasn’t made any progress at all in the direction of breaking Hendry’s record for most ranking titles. After last season I was certain he would break the record, but now that he’s playing such a condensed schedule I’m not so sure anymore…
Especially when Ronnie lost a final i’m a depressed a bit.
But now I can’t tell myself to stay negative.
Because during the last 2 weeks he earned a well-needed victories against Higgins and Selby, get revenge against Murphy at the CoC, plus a well-needed CoC.
It was a well-needed because he lost close 2016& 2017 finals.
I’m over the moon when I recognize that during the last 2 weeks Ronnie has made 21(?) centuries!
IT’S INCREDIBLE! 21 CENTURIES!
I’m a but sad of course because Ronnie at the evening Ronnie let Trump chances to find his game (these 2 frames from 5-4 to 5-6).
But his attitude was brilliant during the weekend.
I’m very positive.
4 tournaments, 2 victories, 1 final, 1 semi-final. Looks decent one.
And with this attitude (and not to play Selby a long battle where Ronnie needes 2000000% focus) a very good UK to come for us I think.
And well done to Trump! He was very bad against Selt in his 1st match but from that: he was amazing.
Both players playeda bit bad (both very tired maybe?) but it was an enjoyable final.