UK Snooker Championship 2024: Judd Trump recovers to beat Neil Robertson
World No. 1 Judd Trump won five consecutive games from 3-1 down to defeat three-time British champion Neil Robertson 6-3 to advance to the top 16 in York.
Australian Robertson once had a great opportunity to lead 4-1, but missed the penultimate ball, which became the turning point of the game.
Trump then scored 73 points, 126 points and 67 points in a row to lead 5-3, and locked in the ninth inning to tie with three-time champion John Higgins.
Robertson, ranked 18th in the world, must go through two qualifying rounds before reaching York, one of the most anticipated matches of the first round.
However, both players criticized the conditions at the York Barbican, with seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry saying on BBC TV that the table was “unplayable”.
“I’m glad Stephen said it was unfightable because it was the toughest fight I’ve ever had,” said Robertson, the 2010 world champion. “This cannot be done under professional conditions. In any case, being such a tough sport, it would make any player look stupid.
“The venue and conditions are generally good – it’s not the table setters’ fault. The arena feels nice, but I don’t get it. With the bounce of the mat, it can fly two to three feet away and then you’re out position.
“I can’t really blame my performance, it was just really tough to get out there.”
