World number one Judd Trump secured a hard-fought first-round win over Scotland’s Stephen Maguire on the opening day of the 2025 UK Championship at York Barbican.
Trump, who won this event in 2024 and 2011, defeated the Scot 6-4 in an entertaining clash to move into the last 16 where he will play China’s Si Jiahui.
Maguire, the 2004 winner, made breaks of 86, 111, 82 and 86 but also made costly errors, with Trump stealing the eighth frame on a respotted black having trailed 26-61.
Trump has not won a tournament since his success at the same venue 12 months ago. He lost in the final of the Players Championship, the Northern Ireland Open and the Champion of Champions and reached the semi-finals of the Masters, the Championship League, World Grand Prix, the World Championship and the Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.
He will not be playing in the Scottish Open in Edinburgh in the week before Christmas so this is his last chance to win an event in 2025, although he has still been happy with his performances over the past 12 months.
“It has been a decent year, a solid six or seven out of 10 with a lot of positives,” said 36-year-old Trump. “I reached the semi-finals of the Masters, the semi-finals of the Worlds, reached four finals. On that basis you could say I’m one of the in-form players of the year.
“Even if I won here, it would not be a good year compared to other seasons – unless I win seven events in a season then it won’t do anything for me. So much is expected of me, if I don’t win straight away there’s more pressure and you don’t have that time when you’re at the top.
“Having so many good years in a row, it brings you back down to earth and you just have to work harder. I still really want to win every event and I’m not miles away.”
