Mark Selby withstood a brave fightback from the world No 1 Judd Trump to clinch the third UK Championship title of his career at the Barbican Centre in York. The 42-year-old completed a 10-8 win, signalling his return to the top of the sport after four years in which a return to his dominant best had seemed a distant prospect.
Selby had zoomed into a 5-0 lead in the opening session before Trump twice chiselled his way back to a single-frame deficit. The Leicester player savoured his first triple crown title since 2021, having gone public over his battle with depression in the wake of his fourth world title win that year. He endured a whole season without a ranking title and considered retirement after crashing to a Crucible defeat against Joe O'Connor in 2024.
Throughout the week in York, Selby showed flashes of his old self, not least in the way he roared into a seemingly insurmountable advantage on the back of five consecutive half-centuries or better. As Trump inevitably stirred, Selby showed signs of pressure, notably when he blew a golden chance to clear up for victory in the 17th frame, but he recovered well and a hard-earned 69 in the next saw him over the line.
Trump had made relatively serene progress into the fifth UK final of his career, but the defending champion was forced to adopt a rearguard action after Selby's stunning start. Trump awakened belatedly with consecutive breaks of 74 and 75 to give himself a glimmer of hope, and later delivered two centuries – 105 and 124 – as he kept clinging on at 8-6 down. Yet Selby was not to be denied, sealing a memorable triumph in York.
