Triple Crown winner Judd Trump is set to play maiden ranking event finalist Zhang Anda in the final of the 2023 English Open snooker — the first Home Nations Series event of the campaign.
The fourth ranking tournament of the season, the winner of the best-of-17 frames encounter in Brentwood on Sunday will lift The Steve Davis Trophy and pocket a cool £80,000 payday.
Trump’s route to a 39th career ranking final has been a mixed bag. Alongside comfortable wins, the Englishman survived a deciding frame finish against Jimmy Robertson in the last 32 and staged a brilliant comeback in the semifinals where he recovered from 5-2 down to deny four-time world champion John Higgins 6-5.
MORE: Where to watch English Open Snooker 2023
His third English Open final appearance, 2020 champion Trump is aiming to become only the second multiple-time winner of the title.
Despite winning the prestigious invitational Masters earlier in the year, 23-time ranking event winner Trump has not claimed a ranker since the 2022 Turkish Masters — over 18 months ago.
Zhang is enjoying the snooker week of his life as he prepares for his first ranking final.
Nicknamed ‘Mighty Mouse’, Zhang is in his 13th season as a professional, but prior to this week in Essex he had never been inside the world’s top 50 nor reached a ranking event semifinal.
The 31-year-old eliminated seven-times world champion and world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 in the last 16 en route to the biggest day of his career, so far.
Zhang Anda dream week continues as he beats Liu Hongyu in the semi-final and faces Judd Trump tomorrow#EnglishOpen pic.twitter.com/bzQ5uktTfS
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 7, 2023
The Sporting News will bring you live frame-by-frame updates throughout the two-sessions (start times 1300 and 1900 BST).
English Open snooker final 2023 live score
| Frames | |
| Judd Trump | 3 |
| Zhang Anda | 6 |
English Open snooker final 2023 frame-by-frame updates
All times BST
7.25 p.m.: Frame 9 – Trump 12-125 Zhang
CENTURY BREAK FOR ZHANG
Judd Trump has fitted a new tip on his cue for the evening session, but he is made to watch as Zhang Anda claims the opening frame of the night with the help of a 109 clearance – his second century of the match.
What a statement of intent from the maiden ranking event finalist.
7.05 p.m.: They’re back underway in Brentwood, and this evening we will crown the 2023 English Open champion!
4.11 p.m.: Frame 8 – Trump 120-7 Zhang – END OF AFTERNOON SESSION
CENTURY BREAK FOR TRUMP
This is a lot more like it from 23-time ranking event winner Judd Trump as he finishes the opening session on a high.
Straight from Zhang’s break off, Trump drills in a long red and fashions a 120 break to end the afternoon’s play just two behind.
There is a different complexion on proceedings after those last two frames and we have a fascinating session to look forward to this evening!
We’ll be back from 7pm with more live updates.
3.55 p.m.: Frame 7 – Trump 70-4 Zhang
Masters champion Trump stops the rot by claiming frame seven.
The 34-year-old Englishman pots a long red and constructs a run of 56 – his first half-century break of the match – on his way to reducing his arrears to three frames.
The final frame of this afternoon’s session is coming up.
3.31 p.m.: Frame 6 – Trump 12-90 Zhang
Four frames in-a-row now for Zhang and he guarantees himself a lead for tonight’s concluding session.
Zhang gets in first in frame six but misjudges position and misses a long blue to keep the break going.
However, Trump miscues AGAIN, and although he needed a couple of visits to get it done, Zhang makes it 5-1.
Zhang is over half the way there, Trump is in trouble. Big couple of frames coming up.
3.11 p.m.: Frame 5 – Trump 0-128 Zhang
CENTURY BREAK FOR ZHANG
Zhang Anda continues to seriously impress during what is the biggest match of his career to date!
The Chinese cueist compiles a fantastic 128 total clearance to go three clear.
Three more frames of the afternoon session to go…
“What a performance!” 👏
Zhang Anda increases the deficit to 3 frames with a 128 clearance! 💯#EnglishOpen 🏴 pic.twitter.com/rvjyr2OdfD
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 8, 2023
2.42 p.m.: Frame 4 – Trump 1-65 Zhang
Maiden ranking event finalist Zhang Anda goes into the mid-session interval 3-1 up.
Trump miscues early on in frame four; Zhang gets up to 28 but unexpectedly misses an easy red with the rest.
A missed red into a middle pocket from Trump later on, though, offers Zhang another chance which he takes to open a two-frame lead.
Triple Crown winner Trump is unable to find any rhythm at the moment.
Another miscue for Judd Trump! 😳#EnglishOpen 🏴 pic.twitter.com/8efKTflKrV
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 8, 2023
2.24 p.m.: Frame 3 – Trump 0-85 Zhang
World number 57 Zhang gets back in front.
The 31-year-old pots a beautiful long red and crafts a classy frame-winning break of 85.
‘Mighty Mouse’ is looking comfortable here in his first ranking final!
2.05 p.m.: Frame 2 – Trump 72-48 Zhang
Former champion Trump misses a couple of long-range efforts at the start of frame two and Zhang makes a 41 break but breaks down after failing with a thin cut on a red.
Trump subsequently gets in with a long pot but snookers himself on 36 with three reds left.
After a bit of good fortune for Trump when he snookered his opponent on the final red, he makes a break of 26 up to and including the final pink to level the match.
1.42 p.m.: Frame 1 – Trump 15-67 Zhang
A very patient and disciplined start to the final by both players, as it takes over 17 minutes for the first points to be scored – Zhang potted the first few balls after the long safety exchange.
The scrappy theme continued throughout the 30-minute plus opener which yielded no big scoring visits, but it is maiden finalist and underdog Zhang who settles in first.
12.50 p.m.: The 2023 English Open final is just minutes away.
First to nine frames lifts The Steve Davis Trophy and collects £80,000. There are scheduled to be eight frames this afternoon, with a short mid-session interval after the fourth frame.
Will firm favourite Trump secure a 24th career ranking title or can maiden finalist Zhang complete a fairytale week in Brentwood?
12 p.m.: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the English Open snooker final 2023. Judd Trump is the big favourite heading into this one but anyone who beats Ronnie O’Sullivan en route to a final appearance is not to be overlooked!