Snooker scores LIVE: Judd Trump vs Zhao Xintong updates from £150k Tour Championship final
Live updates from the Daily Express as Judd Trump faces Zhao Xintong in the Tour Championship final
The final stop on the road to the World Championships has arrived with Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong facing off in the Tour Championshop final in Manchester.
£150,000 is up for grabs with the latter also looking to pull off a historic "clean sweep" of the Players Series, having won the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship earlier this year. Trump meanwhile, is looking to further establish himself as the world's best ahead of action at The Crucible later this month.
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The two players arrive to the final after dominant semi-final wins with Trump beating Neil Robertson 10-4 and Zhao hammering John Higgins 10-1. The best-of-19 frames final will be split across two sessions with the afternoon one set to get underway at 1pm while the evening session is likely to commence at roughly 7pm.
With all of that being said, Express Sport has got you covered for all the build up, live coverage and reaction of the final...
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1 min ago19:00 Patrick Austen-Hardy
The evening session is about to begin
The evening session of the Tour Championship final between Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump is about to begin.
The Chinese ace is leading the World No. 1 5-3 after a pulsating afternoon session. Zhao was scintilating at times, but Trump also proved why he is the highest ranked player on the planet.
Can Zhao power his way to the £150,000 first prize or will Trump overcome the young star.
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17 mins ago18:44 Patrick Austen-Hardy
When does the Zhao vs Trump evening session start?
The Tour Championship final is perfectly poised. Zhao Xintong is leading Judd Trump 5-3. We will find out in the evening if the world champion can overcome the World No. 1.
The snooker world will discover whether he can or not for themselves at 7pm this evening, when the second session of the final begins.
45 mins ago18:16 Patrick Austen-Hardy
Will Zhao level the score against Trump
Zhao Xintong will begin the evening session of the Tour Championship final leading Judd Trump 5-3. However, it's the World No. 1 who is winning the head-to-head battle.
They have faced each other on five occasions, with Trump winning five of those matches. The scores are below
English Open - October 2018
Trump 4-3 Zhao
Championship League Stage Group 1 - October 2020
Trump 3-1 Zhao
German Masters - January 2022
Trump 1-5 Zhao
Champion of Champions November 2025
Trump 6-2 Zhao
Snooker Championship November 2025
Trump 3-4 Zhao
1 hour ago17:42 Patrick Austen-Hardy
Watch Zhao Xintong's moment of magic against Judd Trump
Zhao Xintong demonstrated how great he is with this marvellous safety shot in the afternoon session against Judd Trump.
2 hours ago17:12 Patrick Austen-Hardy
What's the prize money for the Tour Championship
The winner of Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong will take home a cheque of £150,000. The runner-up will have to content themselves with a prize of £60,000.
Who do you think will be taking home the £150k?
2 hours ago16:37 Patrick Austen-Hardy
BBC pundit comments on Zhao Xintong speak volumes
Zhao Xintong's brilliance was summed up by Alan McManus and Matthew Stevens' comments about him. Zhao roared into a 5-2 lead against Judd Trump, although the World No. 1 did get one frame back before the afternoon period ended.
Before the final started, McManus and Stevens' were blown away by the Chinese ace's display against John Higgins in the semi-final, when he swept the Scot aside 10-1.
The 29-year-old executed one long pot early in the sixth frame with a red ball covering half the pocket. McManus described it as the finest shot that he had ever witnessed.
The audience inside the Manchester Central Convention Complex erupted in applause following that remarkable moment. And McManus said: "He has been amazing again. How do you hurt him on the table, and how do you get to him mentally?
"There is one shot in particular that, I believe, is the best shot I've ever seen; it was that good. He only has half a pocket, but he barely hits the cue ball; it is mesmerising. You run out of things to say. I am glad I was not in the comms box, as you would not know what to say."
3 hours ago16:19 Patrick Austen-Hardy
John Higgins' Zhao Xintong prediction
After Zhao Xintong destroyed him 10-1 in the semi-final, John Higgins admitted he could not see anyone else but the Chinese ace winning the Tour Championship.
When asked who he felt would emerge victorious between Zhao and Judd Trump, the Scot said: "I think Xintong.
"The way he plays, and how easy he wins frames, and just the way he goes about the patterns he’s got.
"I think Xintong is favourite. He’s that special a player, I think.”
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3 hours ago15:39 Patrick Austen-Hardy
Trump gets one back
Judd Trump has now made it 5-3. He is still two frames behind, but it's a start.
Is the comeback now on?
3 hours ago15:37 Patrick Austen-Hardy
Stephen Hendry notices Trump's cue action
Stephen Hendry noticed Judd Trump fiddled with the tip of his cue, just like he did when he beat Shaun Murphy. The World No. 1 said he struggled against the Magician, until his friend Charlie quickly altered the tip at the break.
Trump has made some changes again, fiddling at 2-2. Hendry noticed, saying: “We were looking at it in the green room and I think it is. It looks like a new tip. Maybe he thought the other one was just past its best and it was going to be no good today.
“It’s a risk putting a new tip on the day before a final. But he’s striking the ball well. A couple of deep screw backs he’s done [well]. It was a risk but it might be paying off.”
Considering Zhao is now well in the lead, it does not look like it's had the desired effect.
4 hours ago15:30 Patrick Austen-Hardy
Zhao 5-2 up
Zhao is now in cruise control against the World No. 1. The Chinese star is now winning 5-2.
It's a long way back for Trump now
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4 hours ago15:01 Kieran Horn
Zhao 3-2 up
Zhao Xintong has mustered the perfect response and is now leading the final again after winning the fifth frame.
4 hours ago14:46 Kieran Horn
Back underway
We are back underway in the Tour Championship final following some analysis of those first four frames.
That included Stephen Hendry making a point of Judd Trump's change in cue tip after facing problems earlier in the tournament.
He said on Channel 5: “We were looking at it in the green room and I think it is. It looks like a new tip. Maybe he thought the other one was just past its best and it was going to be no good today.
“It’s a risk putting a new tip on the day before a final. But he’s striking the ball well.
“A couple of deep screw backs he’s done [well]. It was a risk but it might be paying off.”
Trump after he beat Shaun Murphy in the quarters
"At 7-5, my friend Charlie did some work on my tip and that made a massive difference.
"Before that my cueing was all over the place, I didn't know where I was aiming.
"He shaped the tip and made it more reactive, I was able to get more power when I needed it."
5 hours ago14:29 Kieran Horn
Trump levels the final
This is much more like it from Judd Trump with the final now level at 2-2!
The first break of this final is now underway with it giving Zhao Xintong the chance to re-focus.
5 hours ago14:10 Kieran Horn
Trump on the board
Judd Trump has put those two frames behind him and is now on the board with Zhao Xintong 2-1 up!
5 hours ago13:44 Kieran Horn
Zhao doubles his advantage
Scintilating stuff from Zhao Xintong as he goes 2-0 up!
Judd Trump did not even manage one point with the Chinese star pulling off a sensational 68-break.
6 hours ago13:30 Kieran Horn
Zhao goes 1-0 up
Zhao Xintong has taken the first frame of this final with a break of 64
The world champion flew out of the blocks but Trump expertly halted his momentum to bring himself back into it.
A flurry of snookers were shot during the final minutes of the frame before Trump got a chance from a Zhao foul. However, he was unable to take advantage with Zhao potting the last red with the world No1 later conceding.
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6 hours ago13:04 Kieran Horn
We are about to get underway
The walk-ons of both Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump have now been completed.
We are now just moments away from the Tour Championship final getting underway in Manchester...
6 hours ago12:50 Kieran Horn
Stevens and Hendry disagree on prediction
Channel 5 pundits Matthew Stevens and Stephen Hendry have selected different winners for the Tour Championship.
The latter is backing Zhao Xintong as he said: "I don’t think he [Trump] has played well enough to stop Xintong.
Meanwhile, Stevens said: "I fancy Judd [Trump] today."
6 hours ago12:35 Kieran Horn
Trump edges Zhao in head-to-head record
Judd Trump will be looking to keep his positive record over Zhao Xintong in the Tour Championship final.
The duo have faced off five times in a professional setting with Trump holding a 3-2 advantage.
Their most recent high-profile meeting saw Trump win 6-2 at the 2025 Champion of Champions, though Zhao famously defeated Trump 6-3 during his run to the 2021 UK Championship title.
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7 hours ago12:19 Kieran Horn
Xintong comments on Tour Championship final
Having won the second semi-final, Zhao Xintong knew he would be facing Judd Trump with the Tour Championship trophy on the line.
After his staggering 10-1 win over John Higgins, he said: "I played well and I am very happy to reach the final.
"My cueing was very good. I tried not to think too much - I just enjoyed the table and concentrated on the balls.
"This season I have been in four finals and I am enjoying every moment and trying to get better.
"To play Judd in a final for the first time will be a big moment for me. It will be very tough."
7 hours ago12:03 Kieran Horn
Trump’s World Championship claim immediately after reaching final
Judd Trump seemingly has his eyes on the upcoming World Championships despite today’s Tour Championship final against Zhao Xintong.
After beating Neil Robertson in the semi-finals, he made quite the claim on his opponent while also making a Crucible admission.
He said: "In my eyes Neil loves to win 10-0 so I wanted to beat him 10-1 or give myself something to focus on so he didn't get back in it.
"At this point you want to beat everyone with the World Championship just around the corner.”
7 hours ago11:51 Kieran Horn
How to watch Tour Championship final
Channel 5 has the rights to air the Tour Championship with their coverage set to begin at 12:30pm and the final’s first session set to get underway at 1pm.
They will be on-air until 5pm with the evening session’s programme scheduled to start at 6:30pm.
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7 hours ago11:46 Kieran Horn
How we got here...
Both Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong were convincing in their respective semi-final wins to get here.
The world No1 beat Neil Robertson 10-4 while Zhao simply blew John Higgins, who won last year, away as he beat the Scotsman 10-1.
The latter also comfortably beat Chris Wakelin after receiving a bye in the first round. Trump meanwhile, was able to get beyond Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy in two thrilling matches.
7 hours ago11:42 Kieran Horn
Good morning
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s Tour Championship final between Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong…
For all the build up, live coverage and reaction, stay with us over the coming hours!
