The Battle of Coventry

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Sunday is always known for a snooker final and the history of the sport has produced some spectaculars. This time we were here to watch Neil Robertson and Judd Trump meet to attempt to capture the prolific Champion of Champions title. When it came to it, the match was relentless with each player playing cat and mouse to take frame after frame between the two. This was probably one of the best finals I have seen with both sportsmen playing out of their skins. Neither player were phased when their opponent managed to get a lead and were quickly at their heels once more by stealing the following frame. High break building was apparent with centuries flying in. This was a match that had adrenaline flowing and sweat beads forming as each player waited for the other to make a crucial mistake.

The man of the moment, Judd Trump looked so good in this final but as the match drew to a close, those snooker demons that once looked over him, came back to haunt him. 9-8 up, Judd had a chance to get a winning break but couldn’t quite get over the line. His punishment was Neil Robertson taking the frame to a re-spotted black and a miss by Trump, let Robertson take the match to a deciding frame. A beleaguered Trump looked forlorn as the Australian began to move closer to victory after he initially took on a long red that rattled on the jaws of the pocket. Neil took on pot after pot and despite their difficulties, landed in the heart of the pocket. He finished the match in style, taking frame and match, 10-9 with a 137 break and denied Trump his six title in twelve months and his second Champion of Champions titles. Robertson shed tears as his son Alexander was beckoned onto the stage and sobbed as the victory sunk in. This final had everything and the standard was amazing. It was unfortunate to have a loser but even in defeat, the matured Judd was gracious in defeat, sportsmanship at its best. Before we can catch our breath, we now move to Belfast tomorrow for the start of the Northern Ireland Trophy, won last year by Judd Trump.

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