Neil Robertson Meets Judd Trump in Thrilling UK Championship

Neil Robertson will face world number one Judd Trump in the first round of the UK Championship after securing a 6-2 win over Matthew Stevens in the final qualifier. This matchup will be a rematch of their thrilling 2020 final, which Robertson won as well as their recent encounter at the Champion of Champions earlier this month where the Australian triumphed again. Robertson a three-time Triple Crown winner, started strong with a break of 136, but Stevens leveled the match at 1-1.

Robertson then won three consecutive frames including a crucial fourth frame that Stevens had nearly won and wrapped up the victory. Their clash in the first round is one of the most anticipated ties with other exciting matches also scheduled. Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will meet Barry Hawkins in a repeat of their 2013 and 2016 World Championship and Masters final encounters.

Zhao Xintong, the 2021 UK Champion will face Shaun Murphy after returning from a ban linked to snooker’s match-fixing scandal. Jack Lisowski, who ended women’s world champion Bai Yulu’s qualifying run will play Mark Selby while Mark Williams, the Champion of Champions winner takes on Stuart Bingham.

Zhao’s return to the main draw follows four convincing qualifying wins including a stunning 146 break, the highest of the tournament so far. Despite a 2-0 deficit against Ricky Walden, Zhao won six straight frames with breaks of 126 and two half-centuries. Elsewhere, David Gilbert dominated Julien Leclercq 6-1, Matthew Selt beat Zhou Yuelong 6-3 and Lei Peifan registered breaks of 129 and 131 in a 6-2 win over Ben Woollaston.

Michael Holt and Robert Milkins also triumphed by the same scoreline while He Guoqiang won a final-frame decider to progress past Stan Moody.