Judd Trump came up short against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the World Snooker Championship final on 4 May, as the 46-year-old Englishman claimed a record-tying seventh world title with an 18-13 victory at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
What happened in the final?
O’Sullivan led 12-5 after two sessions and survived two late Trump surges to close out the match. Trump, the 2019 champion, twice pulled within three frames but couldn’t sustain the momentum. The 46-year-old finished with a match-clinching break of 85 before breaking down in tears in Trump’s arms.
How did Trump perform?
Trump recovered from 12-5 down to fight back in the afternoon session. He twice closed the gap to within three frames, but O’Sullivan held firm. After the match, Trump called it an amazing achievement and said sharing the table with O’Sullivan had been a pleasure. The 2019 champion grew up idolising O’Sullivan and called him the best player of all time.
What does this mean for the records?
O’Sullivan now shares the modern-era record with Stephen Hendry, who won all six of his world titles in the 1990s. O’Sullivan also holds seven titles at the Masters and the UK Championship, the other two snooker “majors.” At 46, he remains the oldest world champion in the Crucible era and has the most career ranking titles (39).
What’s next for Judd Trump?
Trump will look to regroup after his second runner-up finish at the Crucible in three years. His next major target is a fourth UK Championship title, where he’ll aim to join O’Sullivan and Hendry among the sport’s most decorated champions.