UK Championship 2023: Ding Junhui stuns Judd Trump to set up Ronnie O’Sullivan showdown in final

Ding Junhui secured a fifth appearance in the UK Championship final with a stunning 6-4 semi-final victory over Judd Trump at the Barbican in York.

This was the 18th meeting between the pair, and it was Ding that seized advantage in the first frame after taking a superb double with a break of 60.

Trump left the yellow in play in his attempts to escape a snooker, which gave Ding the chance to clear.

The world No. 2 levelled the scores after a failed safety shot from Ding opened up the door for him, as he amassed 33 points to wipe out the Chinese player’s lead.

Trump took the lead for the first time with another run of 33 points, as Ding failed in his attempts to get two snookers.

However, this intriguing contest took another twist when Ding levelled things up once again after six reds were left on the table, and he seized the opportunity to edge out a cagey fourth frame.

We had not seen the best of Trump until he moved 3-2 ahead with his 51st century of the season, a sublime clearance of 124 up to the pink in less than 10 minutes.

Ding responded with a break of 46, clearing up to the green to draw level again.

A scintillating match continued to ebb and flow both ways, as Ding claimed an 11th century of the tournament with a break of 110 to move ahead for the first time since the opening frame.

After a 22nd century of the season for Ding, Trump hit back with his 52nd with a break of 105, and an 11th-frame decider was looking increasingly likely.

After a safety battle, it was Ding that was in again when Trump missed an awkward looking red into the right corner.

This allowed the world No. 17 to ruthlessly punish that error with a brilliant clearance of 88 and go 5-4 ahead.

A decider did not materialise though, as Ding got in again after another uncharacteristic error saw Trump miss a red to the left-centre pocket.

After progressing to the snookers required stage, Ding ended with a break of 84 to reach the UK Championship final for a second consecutive year, where he will take on Ronnie O’Sullivan.