Mark Selby has won the UK Championship twice, with his last success in 2016
Mark Selby secured a commanding 6-3 victory over Shaun Murphy, earning his place in the UK Championship final against Judd Trump on Sunday.
Earlier, defending champion Trump completed a 6-3 win against Australia’s Neil Robertson, continuing his bid to win at least one trophy every year since 2013.
The Saturday evening contest in York promises to be a compelling affair, with four-time world champion Selby showcasing clinical form to defeat Murphy.
Selby initiated a high-quality start with a break of 73, promptly answered by Murphy’s sublime 131.
Selby, whose last title in this tournament was in 2016, claimed the third frame with a remarkable positional shot from the blue to the final red after Murphy’s missed red.
Another 73 extended Selby’s lead, and he continued his momentum post-interval with a well-constructed break of 105 to lead 4-1.
Murphy briefly ignited hopes of a comeback, reminiscent of his victory against John Higgins, by winning the subsequent two frames.
However, when the 2008 champion missed a long red to the left corner pocket, Selby capitalized with breaks of 72 and 55 to go 5-3 ahead.
In the ninth frame, Selby, a 24-time ranking event winner, stylishly secured his place in the final of one of snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown events for the 15th time, highlighted by his second century of the match.
Judd Trump aims to become the first player since Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2018 to successfully defend the UK title.
Mirroring the epic final in 2020, where Robertson narrowly defeated Trump 10-9, the initial frames were closely contested.
Trump recorded two half-centuries, while Robertson crafted a superb break of 114, subsequently clinching a remarkable fifth frame on the black to lead 3-2.
However, the world number one then seized control as Robertson – playfully jeered by spectators for mimicking cricket shots in reference to England’s struggles in the Ashes – committed a series of uncharacteristic errors.
Trump capitalized with three half-centuries and then secured his fourth consecutive frame with a 53 to book his place in Sunday’s showpiece match.
“I probably just missed a couple less balls than him. It is great to be back in the final – the last few months and weeks have been a lot more consistent,” Trump told BBC Sport.
“It wasn’t an amazing standard but I did what I needed to do. I feel good about my game.”
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Neil Robertson brings the thunder during walk-on
Trump aims to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the UK crown, following Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Englishman appears to be regaining his form after openly discussing his struggles to find top gear and a suitable cue this term.
He previously reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open in October and the Champion of Champions in November, where he was defeated by Jack Lisowski and Selby, respectively.
Trump is also aware that on the two prior occasions he has defeated Robertson at this tournament, he has gone on to win the title.
But when Trump fell 3-2 behind in an extraordinary frame, momentum seemed to shift towards Robertson, who earlier this term won the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters.
“It was a massive frame to go 3-2 [down] but I still felt positive and like I had a good chance,” Trump added.
“A lot of times when you lose a frame like that, your opponent can get carried away like they have done the hard work but luckily for me, he left me in, in the next frame.
“I have been in a few finals recently and it is never nice to be on the losing end. I need to use that as motivation and have the determination to come out on the right end.”
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