Last updated: 7 Dec 2025, 11:58pm
Mark Selby held off a late fightback from world No 1 Judd Trump to win the UK Championship at the Barbican Centre in York, prevailing 10-8 to claim his third UK title and his first since 2016.
Selby dominated the opening session, racing to a 5-0 lead and producing five successive half-centuries or better. Trump, the defending champion, responded with heavy scoring of his own and twice reduced the deficit to a single frame, but the 42-year-old Selby steadied to close out the match and underline a return to form after several difficult seasons.
‘It’s amazing to win another triple crown — they’re not easy to win and it took me nine years to get back here,’ Selby said. ‘I set targets every year to try and win one of these three tournaments. You’re judged by these events, so I’m chuffed to get another one.’
Selby has been open about his struggles with depression since his fourth world title in 2021 and revealed he even considered retirement after his 2024 Crucible defeat to Joe O’Connor. He celebrated his victory with his wife Vikki Layton and daughter Sofia, who was two when he last lifted this trophy.
Trump had come through the earlier rounds smoothly but was forced onto the back foot by Selby’s early barrage. Trump responded with two centuries, 105 and 124, and further contributions of 74 and 75, while Selby also compiled a key 91 during the contest.
After the interval Selby led 6-2. A dramatic 11th frame featured a disputed free ball: Trump challenged referee Olivier Marteel’s decision, Selby accepted the protest and the balls were replaced, and Trump then fortuitously fluked the last red to take the frame. Trump kept pressing, pulling back to 8-6 with high breaks and then to 8-7 after Selby missed a couple of blacks. He edged to 9-8 when Selby jarred a simple red, setting up a tense finish. Selby missed a chance to clear in the 17th frame but produced a crucial 69 in the decider to seal the title.
‘Mark was brilliant at the start and I think I just dragged him down towards the end,’ Trump said. ‘It’s hard to get over the line in these finals. Mark was the best player all week and thoroughly deserved his win.’
The victory marks a clear resurgence for Selby after a four-year period when a return to his best seemed uncertain. He reiterated that he would not still be playing if he did not love the sport, and this week in York suggested he has rediscovered both form and enjoyment in the game.