The 2023 NI Open Final today will see Judd Trump, a multiple ranking titles winner and former World Champion, face Chris Wakelin whose only ranking title so far is the 2023 Shoot-out. On paper, Judd has to be a strong favourite but we shall see.

I only watched the first semi-final and it actually went as I expected … to an extend. By that I mean that having watched Chris in recent weeks, I was expecting him to win, but I wasn’t expecting that scoreline. Chris played even better than in his previous matches this week. He will need to sustain that level, or better today if he is to win.

I wish people stopped “bigging” Jack Lisowski as I think that it’s not helping him at all. I like Jack, I like his game, but he’s not performing well on the big stages and I believe that the huge expectations he’s had to cope with from a young age aren’t helping him. I’m also wondering if Peter Ebdon really is the type of coach Jack needs. As persons they are completely different. Peter was quite bold and attacking in his youth but that was some 30 years ago … when he wore a ponytail.

Like him or not, there is no doubt that Judd is the best player on Tour at the moment. Should he win tonight, it would be his third ranking title in a row. That said in those events, quite extraordinarily, he only played 4 matches against top 16 opposition: John Higgins (10), Ali Carter (11) and 2 times Barry Hawkins (14).

All the same, his confidence must be sky high and, at 34, stamina is not an issue for a fit young man. Unlike Chris, he’s been there and done it many times. He will be hard to beat today.

Here are WST reports on the semi-finals:

Wakelin Stuns Lisowski To Reach Final

Chris Wakelin said he had “never played that well on such a big occasion” as he thrashed Jack Lisowski 6-1 to reach the final of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.

Wakelin won the BetVictor Shoot Out in January this year but otherwise had never previously appeared in a ranking event semi-final. But against the more experienced Lisowski, he produced a dominant performance and looked composed and full of self-belief. World number 25 Wakelin will face Judd Trump or Barry Hawkins at the Waterfront Hall on Sunday. First to nine frames will lift the Alex Higgins Trophy and bank £80,000.

A former Asda delivery driver, Wakelin turned pro in 2013, and while he scored some fine results in the early years of his career, notably reaching the Crucible three times, he had never gone beyond the quarter-finals of a ranking event before 2023. He has made significant changes to his life since taking up ballroom dancing in 2021, and his renewed confidence helped him win the Shoot Out nine months ago. He now has the chance to make another leap forward and double his tally of titles.

The 31-year-old is also now guaranteed a place in the Champion of Champions next month, and victory tomorrow would make him the first right-handed player to lift the trophy in Belfast as the previous winners have all been left-handers: Mark King, Mark Williams, Trump and Mark Allen.

Wakelin took the opening frame with a break of 57, before Lisowski levelled with a run of 61. Frame three went Wakelin’s way, and he made a 57 to take control of the fourth. Lisowski had a chance to counter, but missed a difficult black when he trailed 57-20, and his opponent took advantage to lead 3-1 at the interval.

Nuneaton’s Wakelin continued to build momentum as a run of 71 put him 4-1 ahead. In frame six, Wakelin made 66 before missing a tricky red to centre, but Lisowski couldn’t punish him as a tough red along the top cushion wobbled in the pocket. Wakelin added 62 to go four up with five to play. A missed red on 34 in the seventh didn’t prove expensive for Wakelin as he soon got another chance and made a match-winning 34.

“I’ve never experience an atmosphere like that, not even playing at the Crucible,” said Wakelin. “It’s a stunning venue, looking up at the crowd takes your breath away. To play like that in that arena is what dreams are made of. I got a frame on the board at the start, settled down and my confidence grew.

“I’ve never played that well on such a big occasion, especially given how talented and dangerous Jack is. I’ve put a lot of work in and I’ve got a great team around me. My best mate Jason has been here all week, his wife Kate keeps ringing him and asking when he’s coming home!

“To be in the Champion of Champions is a great bonus because it’s such a big tournament. I used to go and watch my friend Mark Selby in that event every year and thought there was fat chance of me ever getting in it. That shows where I was at the time. If I get into it having won two ranking titles that would really validate my place in it.”

Asked about ballroom dancing, Wakelin added: “When I first signed up for it a couple of years ago to help a local charity, I was thinking the glitter and spray tans wasn’t for me. You could never even get me on the dancefloor in a nightclub. I turned up and was blown away by everyone involved. There were no egos, we were just there to learn new things, make new friends and raise money for Zoe’s Place which is a baby hospice. I fell in love with it and I have met some of my best friends through it. I got asked back the year afterwards to represent the team, and I have been asked back again this year although it’s the same week as the Scottish Open.

“It’s a huge part of my life now and it makes me feel good to be doing something for charity. I have worked on my fitness, out running three or four times a week. I am in a much better place mentally and that makes me more comfortable when I’m playing because I’m happy in myself. When I went out there today, if I lost 6-0 my life was still good. I love who I am now. Snooker means everything and I’m here to win. In the past, when I lost I’d be in the Doldrums and in the pub for three days, but now if I lose I can handle it.”

Trump On Brink Of Momentous Treble

Judd Trump recovered a 4-1 deficit to beat Barry Hawkins 6-4 in the semi-finals of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open and is now just one win away from becoming the first player in a decade to capture three consecutive ranking titles.

Bristol’s Trump has won 19 matches in a row, many of those from losing positions including tonight’s contest as he was outplayed by Hawkins in the early stages but yet again stormed back to sprint past the winning line. The 34-year-old will meet Chris Wakelin on Sunday in Belfast and first to nine frames will lift the Alex Higgins Trophy and bank £80,000. Trump has won all 11 of his previous meetings with Wakelin and will start a heavy favourite to complete the historic hat-trick.

The only other players to win three ranking titles in a row are Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and most recently Ding Junhui in 2013. Trump is also looking to win his fourth Northern Ireland Open title having worn the crown in 2018, 2019 and 2020. And the world number three is certain to extend his lead over Hawkins at the top of the BetVictor Series rankings, with a £150,000 bonus up for grabs later in the season.

Trump is into his 41st ranking event final, equalling the tally of Davis and behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan (61), Stephen Hendry (57) and John Higgins (55).

Hawkins, who beat Trump in the BetVictor European Masters final in August, took the first two frames tonight with a top break of 58. In the third, a poor safety from Trump on the final yellow handed his opponent the chance to go 3-0 ahead. Trump pulled one back with a run of 90, only for Hawkins to make it 4-1 with a 75.

Back came Trump with two breaks of 70 to close to 4-3, and he dominated a scrappy eighth frame to square the contest. Frame nine came down to the colours and Trump missed a risky double on the brown, but Hawkins then failed on a difficult pink to a top corner, and fell behind for the first time. That proved the crucial moment, as Trump went on to close out the match in perfect fashion with a 128 total clearance, his fifth century of the tournament.

“Barry was in total control at 4-1,” admitted Trump. “I felt I needed to make things happen. The momentum turned and I started getting in first every frame. The big turning point was 4-4 when we both had a few chances in that frame. Having won so many matches in a row, I felt I was going to take my chance in the last frame. When I get on a roll I am able to go a few frames without missing many balls and maybe at the moment that’s the difference between me and everyone else.

“I have watched a few of Chris Wakelin’s games and he has improved a hell of a lot. I don’t think this will be a one-off, like a few players who you feel might not reach another final. He blew Jack (Lisowski) away today and played some incredible snooker. He could do that against me tomorrow, though to do it in a final is a different kettle of fish. I definitely won’t be taking him lightly.”