UK Championship: Mark Williams tension, Judd Trump fan request, Neil Robertson in flying form

The UK Championship is back with a bang, with a number of the world’s leading snooker players taking to the baize of York Barbican over the weekend – but there have been some tense moments

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Every cagey moment from this year’s UK Championship thus far, as well as a major claim from one of snooker’s thriving stars…

• Williams was visibly frustrated: During his match with Dave Gilbert, Williams reacted strongly to a poor miss by slamming his cue on the ground. He even made a mock gesture of throwing his cue toward the audience, a moment he later admitted didn’t immediately calm his nerves.

• Williams was critical of the quality of the play: Before the interval, Williams compared his own and Gilbert’s style to the slow, defensive play of Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. He felt both he and Gilbert improved significantly afterward, characterizing the latter half of the match as “quite good stuff.”

• Williams confirmed his frustration was genuine: Williams admitted he was “still swearing to myself ten minutes” after the cue-slam incident. This candid reaction highlighted the intense mental pressure players face, even when they ultimately turn the match around for a victory. You can read the full story here.

• Neil Robertson playing ‘better than ever’: The Australian secured a 6-2 win over Julien Leclercq on Sunday. He also said that he is “definitely playing better than I ever have,” as per the BBC.

• Judd Trump also progressed to the next round: The World No. 1 overcame Stephen Maguire with a 6-4 scoreline in his opening clash. Despite the crucial victory, the match was heavily overshadowed by a tense interaction between Trump and a spectator.

• Trump asked officials to remove a spectator: The ‘Ace in the Pack’ lost his composure at the table and demanded that match officials remove an audience member from the York Barbican venue. This was due to the spectator repeatedly interrupting his concentration by letting out loud, audible sneezes three times during the match.

• Foul play ‘on purpose’: The snooker star strongly believed the sneezing incidents were intentional actions meant to disrupt his concentration during critical shots. Trump later commented to TNT Sports, stating that the fan was “obviously doing it on purpose” and lacked courtesy.

• Trump striving for another major title: Trump hasn’t won an event since securing the UK Championship title last year with a 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins. Despite reaching four finals this season, he rates his year only a “solid six or seven out of ten,” showing the incredibly high standards he holds for himself. You can read the full story here.