Neil Robertson lifted his third UK Championship with a dramatic 10-9 win against Judd Trump in a winner-takes-all final frame in Milton Keynes.
The Aussie took home the title at 12:55pm after the final frame surpassed the hour-mark as the mentally-exhausted pair slogged it out.
Trump looked certain to win his second Championship but he missed a routine pink that would have set him up on the black to finish, allowing Robertson to come to the table to finish the frame.
Robertson’s win was worth £200,000, while a dejected Trump took home £80,000 for finishing runner-up.
Despite the drama of the final, the quality at points left much to be desired and Robertson admits he felt the pressure of the occasion.
‘It was unbelievable. What Judd has said after that game I would have been just as gracious,’ said Robertson.
‘It got so bad it was so good at one stage. There was a lot of good stuff. We like to win frames with big breaks in one visit
‘Maybe because I lost my last two finals I was trying too hard and brought Judd down a bit. But we are both gladiators out there trying to win.’
Though Trump was gracious in defeat, he was furious with his play in the final frame and admitted he ‘bottled’ his opportunity.
‘It was an epic battle, tough to take and I bottled it really. I was under pressure and ended up messing up,’ said Trump.
‘I would never have missed form there normally but the whole length of the frame got to me, as well as the pressure and I was trying too hard.
‘It would have made for good viewing but it’s devastating for me.’
The pair were level at 4-4 after the first session but Robertson squeezed ahead with a 7-6 lead after a scrappy start when play renewed.
Trump showed great mental strength to level at 7-7 after a 51-minute frame – the longest of the match by some distance – and he pulled ahead when a beleaguered Robertson left chances aplenty in the next frame.
Astonishingly, Robertson regained his composure to make a 115 clearance and in doing so hit breaking the record for the most centuries hit at the UK Championship with 13.
The Aussie had finally regained his groove but a failed red from Robertson left Trump with the opportunity to clear the table and the Bristolian gave himself two frames to win the Championship.
Trump was on course after a break of 48 but a sloppy red gave Robertson a way back to the table and the world no.3 took the match to its final frame with a sublime clearance.
In a dramatic final frame that was pierced with poor play, Trump had a golden opportunity to win but he screwed a pink.
Robertson was able to regain his composure to sink the pink, though it took a look at the board from the Australian to confirm that he had won the match – such was the emotional drain of the night.
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