Judd Trump summed up his feelings on Barry Hawkins in four words after ‘worst loss’ remark
World No. 1 Judd Trump made his feelings on Barry Hawkins abundantly clear as the pair embark on another potential collision course at the UK Championship. Trump and Hawkins contested last year’s decider in York, where the former was crowned champion for the second time after eking out a 10-8 win.
Snooker icon Trump eased into the second round of this year’s competition on Saturday after sealing a 6-4 win over Stephen Maguire, during which he asked for a disruptive fan to be removed. He’s now due to face China’s Si Jiahui in the second round on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after 14th seed Hawkins begins his tournament against David Lilley. ‘The Ace In The Pack’ ground his way to victory at the Barbican last year, having opened up a 9-6 lead over Hawkins. However, ‘The Hawk’ struck back to temporarily make it a one-frame match at 9-8.
And although Trump got his nose across the line to win, he said it would have been the “worst loss of all time” had he given in to his nerves. Instead, he ended a 13-year wait for his second UK Championship title, devastating Hawkins in the process.
Speaking to the BBC after that breakthrough win, Trump said: “It was such a hard game. The way Barry battled today, considering what happened yesterday, was incredible. He made it so hard for me.
“I wasn’t enjoying myself in the seat at 9-8. I just wanted to get it over with. I was thinking the worst; it could be the worst loss of all time. It’s just pure relief.”
Trump’s initial praise was in reference to Hawkins’ 6-5 comeback win over Mark Allen in the tournament’s semi-finals. He trailed 4-2 at one point in the penultimate stage but hit back to win 6-5 in the early hours of the morning before facing Trump that same day.
The Hawk described his “gruelling” encounter with Allen and said he was “completely drained” after their war of attrition. And there’s a good chance Trump benefited greatly from booking that earlier slot in the finale.
Unlike Trump, last year’s runner-up finish was Hawkins’ maiden visit to the UK Championship final. The Ace In The Pack has featured in the UK Championship’s showcase fixture on four occasions and won two of those.
Prior to last year, Hawkins’ previous best was a run to the semis in 2021, where he once again lost to the eventual champion, Zhao Xintong. The following year, he bowed out in the first round to Ding Junhui, who went on to make the final himself before losing to Allen.
All that to say The Hawk tends to have his wings clipped by elite opposition if he does exit the running at the UK Championship these days. Trump, meanwhile, has already bested his previous title defence at the UK Championship, having been ejected in the first round of the 2012 tournament.
After once again being assigned in different halves of the bracket, Trump and Hawkins can only revive their rivalry in York if they both make it all the way to the final. And the latter has momentum after winning their last encounter at the Tour Championship back in April.
