UK Championship 2024: Judd Trump says testy relationship with Kyren Wilson has 'gone out of the window'

Judd Trump got one over on world champion Kyren Wilson with victory in the semi-finals of the UK Championship at the Barbican in York on Saturday. World No. 1 Trump said what was once a testy rivalry is now one built on mutual respect. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the UK Championship, live and on demand on Eurosport and discovery+.

Trump wraps up win over Wilson at UK Championship in style with a century

Video credit: TNT Sports

Judd Trump has said talk of an unhealthy relationship with Kyren Wilson is a thing of the past after beating the world champion to reach the UK Championship final.

Trump and Wilson are the form players of the 2024/25 season, with two titles each.

Jimmy White has described their rivalry as something similar to that of tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, while both have talked positively about each other’s game.

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That was in contrast to a simmering rivalry earlier in their careers.

Per a piece from Metro in 2019, Trump said of Wilson: "People are saying that Kyren is the next up-and-coming star, but he’s nearly my age and he’s won nowhere near what I’ve won.

"With his personality and mine, it clashes a little bit."

Trump keeps break alive with brilliant plant against Wilson

Video credit: TNT Sports

Trump added in the same interview that he expected their paths to cross regularly at the business end of tournaments.

That has happened this season, with Wilson coming out on top in the finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open.

But while the rivalry is growing, the animosity appears to be a thing of the past.

Speaking to Eurosport after his win over Wilson on Saturday, Trump said: "I think there was a piece made maybe five or six years ago, but it has gone out of the window.

"We have both got a lot of respect for each other. He is out there trying his best the same as me.

"It is fine lines with us at the moment.

"The first final we played [Xi’an Grand Prix] was very close, the odd shot here and there, the second final [Northern Ireland Open] he played well and put me under pressure and I could not do anything.

"Today it was just the odd shot here and there, and it turns the game.

"There is not much in it and over the next few years there are going to be a lot of games between us."

Trump was below the level of the sensational snooker he produced in beating Zhang Anda the previous day, and the world No. 1 said it was impossible to replicate play of that standard day after day.

Trump flukes red into left middle against Wilson at UK Championship

Video credit: TNT Sports

"You will get maybe four or five of them in your life," Trump said of his win over Zhang.

"The World Championship five years ago I had it, same again in that game. It is pretty much impossible to replicate that two days in a row, otherwise I would never lose a tournament."

Trump is one win away from a second UK Championship title, and he has said the Triple Crown events have added importance.

"This tournament just has a different feel to it," Trump said. "All tournaments are big, but everyone who comes here knows it is a step up.

"When you walk backstage and see all the greats commentating and in the studios, that’s when you know there is a bit on the line, you know it is going to be special.

"Not taking anything away from the tournaments in China, but there is something about when you walk into this event, The Masters, World Championship, when you see the greats around the practice room, you know it is time to step up."