Judd Trump was beaten by Graeme Dott
Judd Trump was beaten by Graeme Dott

UK Championship snooker: Judd Trump crashes out to veteran Graeme Dott


Judd Trump became the latest big-name casualty at this year's Betway UK Championship after he was dumped out at the third-round stage by veteran Graeme Dott.

Former world champion Dott, now down at 30 in the world rankings, reeled off six consecutive frames to win 6-2 and set up a fourth-round meeting with fellow Scot Stephen Maguire.

With Trump, reigning champion Mark Selby and Ding Junhui all crashing out in the early rounds, Ronnie O'Sullivan is the top-ranked player left in the competition.

Dott kept his nerve after a blistering start by Trump, in which he made breaks of 93 and 78 to win the two first frames and look set for an easy session.

Dott told worldsnooker.com: "You've got to try and attack Judd and that is what I did at every chance. I just felt so comfortable out there, it's nice to be back playing on TV.

"I get asked the same questions like 'are you still playing snooker?' by people like the delivery men and I say 'yeah I'm still playing, still trying.' So it's nice to show people that I can actually play the game."

Maguire edged a 6-5 victory over 2015 finalist Liang Wenbo, while Ryan Day also held his nerve to win an all-Welsh battle with Mark Williams by the same score.

Marco Fu was another surprise casualty as he went down 6-4 to China's Lyu Haotian.

The evening session saw Mark Allen, Li Hang and Joe Perry all secure safe passage through to the fourth round.

There was still time for drama and a late finish as Mark Joyce edged out former world champion Neil Robertson 6-5 in a very nervy deciding frame to set up a clash with Haotian.

MONDAY DECEMBER 4
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 11 frames)
TV Coverage: BBC/Eurosport

  • Mark Williams 5-6 Ryan Day (Match 98)
  • Lyu Haotian 6-4 Marco Fu (Match 100)
  • Judd Trump 2-6 Graeme Dott (Match (105)
  • Liang Wenbo 5-6 Stephen Maguire (106)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 11 frames)
TV Coverage: BBC/Eurosport

  • Scott Donaldson 1-6 Li Hang (Match 97)
  • Mark Joyce 6-5 Neil Robertson (Match 99)
  • Joe Perry 6-3 Kurt Maflin (Match 107)
  • Peter Lines 4-6 Mark Allen (Match 108)

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