Judd Trump beats Ali Carter 10-6 in Coral World Grand Prix final

Trump twice produced bursts of snooker which Carter couldn't live with to take an otherwise tight encounter in Cheltenham's Centaur, following on from his heroics at Alexandra Palace at last month's Dafabet Masters.

Carter had rallied from 6-3 behind after the first session to get within one frame at 7-6, but Trump found another gear when challenged to confirm himself the game's form player at the start of 2019.

"I could get used to this," said Trump. "It was so hard today - I think Ali's safety play is far superior to what I've faced recently. Even tonight from 6-3, he still had a chance to go 7-7 and I didn't really do much wrong. Proud of the way I held myself together.

"It's nice to see Ali back in a final. I knew it was going to be a tough game. The crowd this week have been superb and I'm very happy to play here."

It was Trump who won the first frame of the final, but it was a century in the fourth frame to level the scores at 2-2 which represented the first demonstration of his talents and the level Carter would need to reach to keep with him.

From there, the Masters champion pressed on into a 5-2 lead but Carter is nothing if not dogged, and took the next to get back within two. In a microcosm of the match, though, Trump stepped up a level to fire in a sumptuous 132 clearance to lead 6-3 heading into the evening.

Upon resumption, Carter produced his highest break of the final, a 99 clearance, and took two of the following three frames to get within one at 7-6.

That would be as close as he got, though, with Trump coming out best following a lengthy safety battle in the next, settling it with a break of 71, and it was a similar tale as he moved within one of victory.

Another smart break after a back-and-forth start to the frame saw Trump finally shake off his opponent and win his 10th ranking title, confirming his status as one of the key contenders at April's World Championship.

Afterwards, he said he'd rather be the underdog. On the form he's shown to start the year, it may be some time before he gets to enjoy such a tag again.