Trump beats O’Sullivan in thrilling N. Ireland Open final

Judd Trump scored a stunning 9-7 defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open in Belfast on Sunday night.

Trump’s victory is his fourth win in a final over fivetime Crucible king O’Sullivan and reduces his head-tohead deficit with the Rocket to 10-9.

This is the ninth ranking title of 29-year-old Trump’s career and ends a trophy drought which extends back to the 2017 European Masters.

Defeat for O’Sullivan prevents him from taking home silverware in back-to-back weeks after winning the Champion of Champions in Coventry last Sunday. He remains on 33 career ranking titles, three behind Stephen Hendry’s record of 36. The Rocket will now turn his attentions to York, where he will seek to defend the UK Championship title he won 12 months ago.

The players were inseparable during a tightly contested afternoon session, where they shared the frames to emerge level at 4-4.

To that point there was never more than a frame between the pair and that pattern continued this evening as they went blow for blow. They reached the mid-session at 6-6 and when they returned it was O’Sullivan who sparked the match into life with a stunning clearance of 134 to move 7-6 ahead.

The Rocket appeared to have the momentum. However, that break jolted world number five Trump into gear and he made a surge for the finishing line. After winning back-to-back frames he powered home thanks to a break of 79 to secure the Alex Higgins Trophy and the £70,000 top prize with a superb 9-7 victory.