Wuhan Open 2023 final LIVE – Judd Trump and Ali Carter resume in tense and thrilling final

Trump takes control of the frame with 31 before he is forced to play safe.

Carter is unlucky again after knocking in a long red. This time, he attempts a black that catches the far jaw of the right centre. The Captain is not impressed, claiming the black rolled off on its way.

The Captain has the first chance of the frame, but is unfortunate to go in-off when splitting the pack from the blue.

A neat 34 clearance to the pink helps Trump win a lengthy 14th frame. He needs two more for victory.

Trump manages to dislodge the black, only to leave it tight on the side rail. But following a safety exchange, an error from Carter gives the Ace another chance to clinch the frame.

Carter misses a red to the left centre and Trump can potentially counter, though two reds are tied up and effectively blocking the path to both corner pockets.

With the pink and black tied up, it is difficult for both players to generate frame-winning opportunities from this position. Although, a loose safety by Trump has given Carter the chance to get points on the board.

After a scrappy start to the 14th frame, Carter leaves a red over the corner that Trump sinks. The Ace has work to do and has already been forced to play impressive recovery shots to keep the break going. He eventually rolls into a red to recommence the safety battle.

For the final time this week, the players return from the interval and will play to a finish.

The two-time world finalist converts his opportunity with a run of 56 enough to halve the deficit at the interval.

Chance for Carter! The Captain knocks in a long red and the balls are nicely positioned for him here.

Trump knocks in a long red and looks to press for an 8-5 lead. But an ambitious split on the reds does not go to plan and he is forced to play safe.

The Captain’s momentum stalls when he pots the green with power in an attempt to split the reds. But not only does he miss the pack, but also goes in-off.

Carter knocks in a decent long red at the start of frame 13 and is in the balls. That will boost his confidence.

Trump is fortunate to leave the cue-ball in the jaws of the corner pocket, covering the red as a result. Carter fails to hit it with his attempted escape and quickly concedes the frame.

Carter closes the gap to 40 points with 35 remaining. That leaves him needing two four-point snookers.

A swift break of 71 leaves Carter needing snookers. The Captain returns to the table in the hope of successfully attaining them.

Despite not generating much power into the cue-ball, the Ace delightfully splits the pack and this really is his frame to lose now.

Carter fears the worst after leaving a red on from his break-off. Trump knocks it in and is quickly into his stride once more.

Trump ruthlessly punishes Carter’s misfortune with a run of 56 to retake the lead in the final.

Trump rattles a pink in the jaws of the corner, handing Carter a chance. But the Captain is extremely unfortunate, knocking a red in while splitting the pack from the blue.

The Ace is in first in frame 11. He needs to develop the reds somewhat, but this is a potential opportunity.

A magnificent 116 clearance – the 100th century of this tournament – delights the Wuhan crowd and, most importantly from Trump’s perspective, levels things up at 5-5.

In no time at all, we’re at the snookers required stage with Trump on a quickfire break of 72 and counting.

Carter with the first chance after a brilliant long red. But he runs out of position after two reds and colours, before missing a tricky red with the cue-ball tight on the side rail. Now, Trump has the chance to get his hand back on the table.

The players and referee are welcomed back into the arena. The players shake hands before Carter breaks off in frame 10.

Will it be ranking title number 25 for Trump? The Ace in the Pack would move joint-fifth on the all-time list and level with Mark Williams if he does.

Or will it be ranking title number six for Carter? It would also be the Captain’s second of 2023, having lifted the German Masters back in February.

Thank you for rejoining us ahead of the resumption of the inaugural Wuhan Open final. Earlier on, Ali Carter recovered from 4-1 down to edge ahead of Judd Trump for the first time at 5-4.

Remember, the first player to reach 10 frames will lift the trophy.

The players will return in just over an hour’s time to resume this closely contested final. It is a race to 10 frames for the title. Make sure you rejoin us for the exciting climax to the inaugural Wuhan Open.

Carter clears to the pink with a 42 clearance that gives him the lead for the first time in this final. From 4-1 down, he holds a 5-4 advantage at the conclusion of the afternoon session.

The Captain crunches in a brilliant long red and now has a really good opportunity to take the final frame of the session.

Trump knocks in a long red before edging his nose back in front. But a loose positional shot on the blue effectively signals end of break. The safety battle resumes with four reds remaining.

The importance of this frame is highlighted by the fact neither player is pushing the boat out too far. There are seven reds still on the table, but there is no clear and obvious frame-winning opportunity at the moment.

Trying to catch a red thin and send the cue-ball back to baulk, Trump misses it twice and receives a warning from the referee. But he changes tack and makes no mistake in making contact with a red at the third attempt.

It definitely is break over this time as Carter snookers himself on an intended red and is forced to play safe.

Carter floats in a wonderful long red to create an opportunity to counter. An untimely kiss on a red while potting the black appears to have halted his progress as he looks to the heavens in disgust. But he plays a brilliant recovery shot to keep the break going.

A run of 23 gives Trump an early lead, before he is forced to play safe after running out of position while attempting to split the pack.

We are all square in this final as Carter clears to the pink with 33. Remember, he trailed 4-1! The final frame of the opening session is coming up.

Trump fails to hit the red and leaves a free ball. There is work to do, but this is a chance for Carter to potentially level. The yellow on the baulk cushion may provide an obstacle.

An opening long red and blue paves the way for Carter to close the gap before laying a good snooker on the final red. Trump escapes and unwittingly manages a snooker of his own, only for the Captain to return the favour with his escape.

Trump ends the stalemate with a nice cutback on a red to the corner. The balls are not ideal for him, but it is still a chance nevertheless.

Things have become incredibly scrappy in this final. The pink and black are tight on the top rail and temporarily out of commission.

The Ace is in first with 16, but loses the cue-ball when splitting the pack from the blue. There is potential for another stalemate here.

After a cagey start to the eighth frame – with Trump having left the black over the corner pocket and only a couple of loose reds available – both players nod towards each other and agree to start again from scratch.

Carter gets another chance and is not letting this one slip as he reduces the deficit to just a single frame.

Although the black is out of commission, the Captain takes control of the frame with a run of 48 before he is forced to play safe.

After an early stalemate in frame seven, Carter picks out a brilliant plant to the left centre and has a decent chance to get points on the board here.

A swift run of 49 to the green helps the Captain stop the rot and cut the deficit.

A loose safety from Trump leaves a mid-range red for Carter, who knocks it in and should fully capitalise.

Despite a fluked red, Carter runs out of position on the blue and is forced to play safe. Although he leaves a red on, Trump can only add a further eight points before a safety battle ensues.

The Ace is in first in frame six after knocking in a long red. But he misses one to the corner while trying to develop others, leaving it over the pocket. This is a chance for Carter.

A lovely clearance of 41 helps Trump extend his lead in this final.

Carter cuts the deficit to 34 points before missing an ambitious penultimate red to the top corner. But after a safety exchange, he leaves a red on and Trump could close out this fifth frame here.

Trump closes in on frame five with 58, but cannot clinch it as he rattles a red in the jaws of the corner pocket. There is hope for Carter yet.

Carter gets in with a brilliant opening red and blue. But he catches a red while potting the pink and sportingly calls a foul on himself. That has handed the initiative back to Trump, who will be desperate to punish here.

The players return from their break and Trump gets us back under way.

Having lifted the English Open trophy last weekend, Trump is seeking his 13th straight victory today as he looks to make it back-to-back ranking titles.

The Ace does enough to see out the fourth frame and move two clear at the mid-session interval.

The chance to counter goes begging for the Captain, who overcuts a blue to the right centre It should be Trump’s frame from here.

Going for the top red of two together between the pink and black spot, Trump is unaware it will not pass the other into the corner until it is too late. Carter is back at the table.

Carter cannot capitalise as he misses a red to the left centre while awkwardly bridging. Trump subsequently knocks in a long red and the balls are nicely placed for him.

Trump runs out of position on the black whilst trying to develop the reds. Although he knocks it in, he then leaves a red on playing it as a shot to nothing. Carter has a reasonably easy starter to get back into the frame.

A loose break-off by Carter allows Trump an early opportunity to establish control on frame four.

Carter is unlucky to double-kiss the blue while attempting to get the snooker and, despite having trailed 52-1 earlier in the frame, Trump knocks it in to edge his nose back in front.

A run of 49 puts Trump 25 points in front with just 22 remaining. But Carter will play on in search of the snooker he requires.

On a break of 44 and counting, Trump is down to the colours and just needs the green to steal this frame.

After conceding 19 penalty points, Carter finally escapes the snooker at the fifth attempt. But he has left a red for Trump, who can look to close the gap once more.

There is a wry smile from both players as the referee prepares to replace the balls, but he does so efficiently and receives a welcome round of applause from the audience.

Trump ties up Carter in a tight snooker behind the yellow. After catching the blue with his first attempted escape, the Captain catches the pink with his second while moving a couple of reds. With no obvious shot on, Trump asks for the cue-ball to be replaced once again and referee Zheng Weili has the unenviable task of piecing the jigsaw back together.

Trump cannot capitalise as he misses a red to the left centre. That is a huge let-off for Carter.

Carter neatly cuts in a thin red to keep the break going, but then misses a fairly routine one as he breaks down on 52. Trump has a decent opportunity to counter with plenty of points still available.

Trump goes close with his attempt at a long red. Unfortunately for him, the red travels around the table before settling near the right centre. Carter pots it and is in the balls.

Trump knocks in another tremendous long red, but does not have position on a colour and a safety exchange has subsequently ensued.

Carter has won six of the 11 previous encounters between the players, including a narrow 6-5 victory in their most recent meeting at last season’s Players Championship.

Although, Trump prevailed in the only final they have contested at the 2019 World Grand Prix.

The Captain responds with a century as a brilliant break of 103 sees him square things up at 1-1.

Carter up to 57 and counting with 75 left on the table. Another couple of reds and colours should see him level.

It appears to be break over as the cue-ball runs loose after he splits the pack. But Carter pulls out another great long red to keep it going.

Carter with a chance to respond immediately after floating in a terrific opening red. Can he fully capitalise?

Fresh from ending his ranking title drought at the English Open last weekend, Trump has built on that momentum this week by dropping just five frames across his five matches – beating Oliver Lines, Matthew Selt, Barry Hawkins, Tom Ford and Wu Yize.

Meanwhile, Carter enjoyed commanding wins over Jamie Clarke, Liam Highfield, Mark Allen and Lyu Haotian, while he also produced an inspired turnaround from 4-1 down to stun former world champion Stuart Bingham in round three.

Following an initial break of 46, a further run of 72 is more than enough for Trump to strike first blood in this final.

The first frame is in the bag with Trump beyond the snookers required stage, but he will be keen to keep building momentum by clearing the table here.

The English Open champion is back at the table after cutting in a long red following a safety exchange. You would fancy him to take the opening frame from here.

Trump establishes a healthy early advantage with a break of 46, before missing a red to the left centre.

The Ace in the Pack has the first opportunity of the final after crunching in a brilliant long red.

The players are out and pose for pre-match photos with the trophy before Trump breaks off to get the final under way.

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to live text coverage of the inaugural Wuhan Open final between Judd Trump and Ali Carter. The best of 19 frames will determine who comes out on top and lifts the trophy.

It will be a showdown between Judd Trump and Ali Carter in the final of the Wuhan Open.

The first session gets underway from 07:00 UK time, so be sure to set your alarm and log on nice and early for all the updates from what promises to be a top-class encounter.

Trump continued his devastating Wuhan Open form to sweep Wu Yize aside in the last four to reach the final. He beat the home player 6-1 on Saturday as the Ronnie O’Sullivan giant-killer, Lyu Haotian, saw his tournament end after a 6-2 defeat to Carter in the day’s earlier action.

Carter’s clash with Trump in Sunday’s showpiece will be his third ranking event final of 2023.

Trump has thus far continued his bid for back-to-back titles.