Northern Ireland Open Final: Judd Trump vs. Chris Wakelin
Don’t miss the thrilling final of the 2023 Northern Ireland Open as Judd Trump takes on Chris Wakelin at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
Clash of Titans
This final showdown features Judd Trump, one of the heavyweights in the game, against the ranked outsider, Chris Wakelin, who has made an incredible journey to the finals.
Wakelin’s Remarkable Journey
Wakelin’s impressive journey began with his victory in the Snooker Shoot Out in January, marking a significant improvement in his performance. However, his presence in the Northern Ireland Open final this week has surprised many.
Wakelin’s remarkable temperament has been a key factor in his success, displaying composure in unfamiliar settings. Notably, he confidently defeated Shaun Murphy and Yuan Sijun on his way to his first ranking semi-final appearance.
In the semi-finals, he effortlessly outplayed Jack Lisowski, securing a 6-1 victory and earning a spot in the upcoming Champion of Champions.
A Formidable Challenger – Judd Trump
Chris Wakelin’s impressive journey faces its toughest challenge as he squares off against Judd Trump. Trump, already a two-time champion in October with victories in the English and Wuhan Opens, is currently on a 19-game winning streak.
In the penultimate round, Trump made an astounding comeback, defeating Barry Hawkins 6-4 with a five-frame winning burst at the end.
Historic Pursuit
If Judd Trump lives up to his favorite’s tag and wins the Northern Ireland Open final, he will achieve a historic feat by becoming the fifth player in snooker history to win three ranking titles consecutively. The elite club includes Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, and Ding Junhui.
Furthermore, a victory for Trump would mark his 26th career ranking crown, placing him above Mark Williams into fifth place on the all-time list.
Overcoming the Odds
Despite being the underdog in this contest, Chris Wakelin has shown he can defy the odds. However, Trump’s remarkable 11-0 head-to-head record provides a clear indication of the challenge ahead.
Northern Ireland Open Draw – Lineup
For a detailed overview of the Northern Ireland Open draw and the lineup, check out the following table:
| Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 128 | Mark Allen | Ben Mertens | 4-0 |
| Round of 128 | Andres Petrov | Sanderson Lam | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Graeme Dott | Oliver Lines | 4-0 |
| Round of 128 | David Grace | Zihao Xing | 0-4 |
| Round of 128 | Ricky Walden | Ben Woollaston | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Allan Taylor | Dominic Dale | 1-4 |
| Round of 128 | Stuart Bingham | Ashley Hugill | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Xu Si | Alexander Ursenbacher | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Mohamed Ibrahim | Dean Young | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Matthew Selt | Andy Lee | 4-1 |
| Round of 128 | Liam Graham | Jackson Page | 0-4 |
| Round of 128 | Jack Lisowski | Rebecca Kenna | 4-1 |
| Round of 128 | David Lilley | Aaron Hill | 1-4 |
| Round of 128 | Fan Zhengyi | Liu Hongyu | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Dylan Emery | Martin Gould | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Robert Milkins | Cao Yupeng | 3-4 |
| Round of 128 | Shaun Murphy | Ryan Thomerson | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Marco Fu | Jamie Jones | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Joe O’Connor | Zak Surety | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Andrew Higginson | Sean O’Sullivan | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Ryan Day | Ma Hailong | 3-4 |
| Round of 128 | Martin O’Donnell | Daniel Wells | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Chris Wakelin | Anthony Hamilton | 4-0 |
| Round of 128 | Alfie Burden | Mostafa Dorgham | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Rod Lawler | Baipat Siripaporn | 4-0 |
| Round of 128 | Zhou Yuelong | Stan Moody | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Andrew Pagett | Lukas Kleckers | 3-4 |
| Round of 128 | Gary Wilson | Louis Heathcote | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Jamie Clarke | Alfie Davies | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Xiao Guodong | Yuan Sijun | 1-4 |
| Round of 128 | Jordan Brown | Stuart Carrington | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Neil Robertson | Wu Yize | 4-1 |
| Round of 128 | Judd Trump | Jenson Kendrick | 4-1 |
| Round of 128 | Adam Duffy | Julien Leclercq | 1-4 |
| Round of 128 | Pang Junxu | Ian Burns | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Liam Highfield | Ken Doherty | 3-4 |
| Round of 128 | Anthony McGill | Jimmy White | 4-3 |
| Round of 128 | Robbie McGuigan | Muhammad Asif | 4-1 |
| Round of 128 | Noppon Saengkham | Himanshu Jain | 4-0 |
| Round of 128 | Manasawin Phetmalaikul | Barry Pinches | 3-4 |
| Round of 128 | Mink Nutcharut | Michael White | 2-4 |
| Round of 128 | Joe Perry | Ishpreet Singh Chadha | 4-2 |
| Round of 128 | Long Zehuang | Anton Kazakov | 1-4 |
