UK Snooker Championship 2021: Judd Trump advances but Ding Junhui knocked out

Judd Trump on the Champion of Champions trophy last week

Tournament favourite Judd Trump was made to work hard for a 6-3 win over Chris Wakelin in the second round of the UK Championship in York.

Wakelin edged ahead with taking the fifth, but Trump took four in a row to battle through to the next round.

World number 55 Sam Craigie caused another huge shock by beating three-time champion Ding Junhui 6-3.

Craigie made breaks of 55, 69, 105 and 84 to oust Chinese star Ding, who won the tournament the last time it took place at the Barbican Centre in 2019.

"I don't know what has happened to Ding," seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry said on BBC Two.

"I don't know whether we have seen the best of him.

"He looks like he doesn't really care that much anymore. In the last tournament he twitched an easy red to beat John Higgins. Any pressure balls he does not look like getting anymore. I don't know where Ding goes from here."

Meanwhile, the 2004 champion Stephen Maguire was in superb scoring form, making two centuries and three further breaks of 70 or more to outclass China's Tian Pengfei 6-1.

Mature Trump battles through

The tournament has already seen a number of shocks taking place with defending champion Neil Robertson, former winner Shaun Murphy and Masters champion Yan Bingtao all heading out early.

Trump, who lifted the trophy for the only time in 2011, was a beaten finalist last year in an epic encounter and looked to be going home when trailing 3-2, but managed to claw himself over the line despite not being at his best.

Trump is favourite for the UK Championship after hammering John Higgins 10-4 to win the Champion of Champions event last time out.

Asked if he looks at the draw with other big names going out, Trump told BBC Two: "You do a little bit, you cannot help yourself.

"When a game goes scrappy, not how I want the game played, I had to dig in and you have to try your hardest. There were a couple of frames I chucked away, there were a few distractions with other tables going on.

"In the past sometimes when a game went like that I gave up a little bit and went too attacking. I let the balls dictate what happens now and give it my all every single shot.

"It definitely comes from experience, I have scraped through that one and I am still in the draw."

Analysis

1997 world champion Ken Doherty on BBC Two:

"It was a workman-like performance from Trump. That is what you have to do, you can't be flying straight away. He will be happy with the win but he will have higher standards of his performance. Most importantly, he is into the next round. Wakelin refused a few shots, and Judd capitalised on the chances.

"Sometimes you have to graft for wins because the standard is so high. You have to work for your victories, frames can go scrappy and you cannot make big breaks all the time."

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