Tour Championship snooker 2026 final live - Zhao Xintong completes thumping win over Judd Trump to claim £150,000 title in Manchester

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The Tour Championship final is a battle between the world champion Zhao Xintong and world No. 1 Judd Trump. Zhao thrashed defending champion John Higgins 10-1 in the semi-finals to set up a meeting with Judd Trump, who disposed of Neil Robertson 10-4 in the last four at Manchester Central despite issues with his tip. The final on Sunday takes place over two sessions, the first from 13:00 UK time.

Air Xintong! Zhao pulls off stunning pot while holding rest above table

Video credit: TNT Sports

Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong will do battle in the final of the Tour Championship in Manchester on Sunday.

Trump booked his place in the final with a 10-4 win over Neil Robertson, while Zhao crushed John Higgins 10-1.

The contest will be played out over 19 frames, with the match at Manchester Central getting underway at 13:00 UK time.

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Zhao hammers Trump to secure brilliant Tour Championship victory

Zhao Xintong warmed up for his world title defence by dismantling world No. 1 Judd Trump 10-3 in the Tour Championship final in Manchester.

Having filleted defending champion John Higgins 10-1 in the semi-finals on Saturday, Zhao was never truly tested as Trump cut a forlorn figure, clearly battling issues with a new cue tip and his confidence.

After opening up a 5-3 lead against an error-strewn opponent in the first session, breaks of 63 and 51 helped him wrap up the final five frames playing well within himself.

It means the world champion has lifted the World Grand Prix, Players Championship and Tour Championship in recent weeks as he heads for the Crucible for the World Championship - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - as favourite to become the first maiden winner to successfully defend the sport's most coveted trophy.

"Thank you. I know it is a big moment for me," Zhao said on Channel 5 after claiming the £150,000 first prize.

"Judd Trump is my favourite player. When I know I play him in the final, I am happy. This is an amazing moment in Manchester and the crowd was amazing."

First session report

World champion Zhao Xintong will carry a 5-3 lead over world No. 1 Judd Trump into the concluding session of the Tour Championship final in Manchester.

Zhao produced breaks of 64, 68, 91 and 98 as he led 2-0 and 5-2 after a faltering Trump had levelled at 2-2 despite being well below his peak form in the season's penultimate ranking tournament.

Zhao also had the chance to pinch a nervy eighth frame of the first session after Trump missed a tough red on 52, but he also missed a tricky red across the table as his opponent finished with a priceless 28 to remain in touch.

Trump's highest break of the match is a modest 61, and he will have to raise his levels when the final is played to a finish at 19:00 with the first man to 10 claiming the £150,000 first prize.

Tour Championship LIVE - Result Trump 3-10 Zhao

A happy Zhao said Trump is his favourite player, appreciated his opponent had problems with his cue tip, but is looking forward to his title defence at the World Championship.

Even though he knows it will be "difficult".

Well, it won't be if they all collapse like Judd tonight. That isn't being harsh, just a factual account of what went out there tonight and for large swathes of the afternoon.

5-3 in the first session and 5-0 this evening tells its own story. Zhao, who also picked up the World Grand Prix and Players Championship in recent weeks, won this Tour event, involving the top 12 players on the one-year list, playing well within himself.

A 10-3 win over Trump came after a 10-1 win over John Higgins and a 10-4 win over Chris Wakelin in dismantling the field in Manchester.

The world champion will head for the World Championship as favourite for back-to-back titles in Sheffield.

Tour Championship LIVE - Result Trump 3-10 Zhao

"I'd have been better off using the spider or something like that," said Trump on Channel 5 about the tip on his cue. "But it is my own fault for turning up with a tip like that. I always enjoy the challenge, and now I have to go away and improve.

"Zhao is a great player, the best in the world over the past few months, and is going to be around for a long time.

"It is up to me and the other players to start playing well against him, otherwise he will win 100 tournaments."

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-83)

In goes the final red and colours. Zhao Xintong is the winner of the Tour Championship.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-56)

Black is dropped in and he is on the yellow. In goes frame and match ball yellow for victory. And the title belongs to the world champion.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-32)

Zhao can't drop in the black with the long stuff out, but Trump misses a red again along the top cush. Another chance then for Zhao to get this finished.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-31)

Excellent shot by Zhao to land on reds from blue in baulk. Now then. What a chance he has here to get the job done here and now as a few more reds are opened up.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-26)

An air of resignation hangs heavy over this final with Zhao back at the table. The world champion has not been in vintage form today yet has done enough to get over the winning line with plenty to spare.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (30-16)

Trump breaking down as he leaves the table studying the tip. Has been doing that a fair few times tonight. Almost as much of a habit as the feathers approaching white.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-9 Zhao (9-0)

Trump trying to give himself a shake in this final. Looks like it is going to be all-out attack from here on in.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-8 Zhao (21-70)

One-way traffic in this final. Looks like the title is a done deal for Zhao, who will need only one more of the remaining seven frames after the interval. Trump sticks up a final red before giving Xixtong the nod.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-8 Zhao (21-34)

Nice opening red by Trump. Tough to win frame at this visit, but he opens up three reds on top such off black. Stunning shot, but he then misses an easy red. Looks at the tip again. Story of the day really.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-8 Zhao (1-33)

Zhao misses an easy brown, but Judd can't follow up a red with the blue. Looks to be a bit forlorn at the moment.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-8 Zhao (0-16)

Zhao will be one frame from the title if he takes out this frame.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-8 Zhao (0-5)

That previous frame will have hurt Judd, who looks to be struggling with what appears to be a new tip. He misses the red completely from distance, and Zhao is back in business.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (35-72)

Looked like being another quick kill for Zhao, but Trump has battled valiantly until another bad safety leaves a long red for his opponent, who takes out red and pink to leave Judd needing snookers. Flukes yellow to left middle and Judd has seen enough. An 8-3 lead for the world champion.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (35-63)

Judd benefiting from a free ball. Ends up releasing the pink, but safety is poor when he needed a good one.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (30-63)

Zhao sticks up the final red, but the pink has gone safe. Trump ends up refusing the red as colour not easy to come by.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (30-63)

Judd back to within 33 points before he plays a superb shot in leaving Zhao in a snooker. Xintong hits the red and gets lucky as green covers the pocket for pot on red.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (10-63)

Zhao knocking a red onto a side rail. Chance then for Judd as he drains a red using the rest. Now then. What can he produce here..

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (1-63)

Zhao needing one more red to reach snookers required as another frame drifts away from Trump. Goes for a double on red. Doesn't make it. 62 points clear with a possible 67 remaining.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (1-31)

Zhao not being put under any pressure out there, and this is the result. Almost feels like he has the freedom of Manchester tonight. Judd offering little or nothing in response.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-7 Zhao (1-22)

Zhao in again here early in this 11th frame after Judd fails to come up with a colour off opening red. Looks increasingly forlorn out there.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-6 Zhao (0-90)

A quick addition of 35 from Zhao finishes off the business for a 7-3 advantage. The first time he has led this final by four frames. Critical times for Trump.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-6 Zhao (0-60)

Another rip-snorting long red from Zhao, and that looks like 7-3 incoming in this final. Looks like Zhao is going to win this frame in under 10 minutes. Blistering.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-6 Zhao (0-55)

Break going for 49 minutes as Zha reaches 49, but he can't get the pack open nicely. Just safety to follow from the world champion.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-6 Zhao (0-34)

Judd hits the pink with his escape from a snooker and ends up leaving his opponent an easy starter. Which is not good news. Zhao back on the move among the balls here.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (48-67)

Brilliant double on a red by Zhao after Judd double kisses final red in trying to play safe. Looks like costing him the frame. And does as the world champion clears to the pink for a 6-3 lead. That is another frame which Judd will feel he could have won.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (48-44)

Down to the final two reds, but Zhao can't sneak one into the left centre pocket which somehow doesn't accept the object ball.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (47-44)

What a stunning long red by Zhao. Tucked up on baulk cushion, but made that look easy. Back among the balls then.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (47-12)

Using a red to open up the other reds. Was once frowned upon, but now part of the deal. Trump loses white on 47, and that is end of break.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (17-12)

Promising position for Judd early in the evening. Chance to get this title match back to within one frame. Zhao forced to digest that chance he squandered.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (8-12)

Trump and Zhao both miss makeable reds early in this ninth frame. Which proves they are both human. And both need a few shots to settle down.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao (0-0)

Right then, welcome back. Boys will be back on the baize in the next few minutes. Who is going to claim the final ranking event of the campaign ahead of the big one at the Crucible? Fair to say, Judd will need to show a bit more than he has so far to work his way out of this predicament.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 3-5 Zhao - latest score

World champion Zhao Xintong will carry a 5-3 lead over world No. 1 Judd Trump into the concluding session of the Tour Championship final in Manchester.

Zhao produced breaks of 64, 68, 91 and 98 as he led 2-0 and 5-2 after a faltering Trump had levelled at 2-2 despite being well below his peak form in the season's penultimate ranking tournament.

Trump's highest break of the match is a modest 61, and he will have to raise his levels when the final is played to a finish at 19:00 with the first man to 10 claiming the £150,000 first prize.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (80-39)

A quickfire run of 28 from Trump to finish the session. Back to 5-3 behind before they play to a finish this evening from 19:00 with the first man to 10 claiming the first prize.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (52-39)

Judd has covered the hard yards out there, but he then misses a red along top cushion on 52. Could cost him the frame. But Zhao then misses the final red across table. Would you believe it? A potentially huge miss and moment in final.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (24-31)

Judd trying to free up his cue arm out there. Has been strangely subdued today, but he is back among the reds off the blue. Balls are at his mercy again. But we have been here before in this session.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (0-31)

But he misses a black off the spot out of nowhere, yet doesn't leave red. A huge spot of good luck there.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (0-30)

All the greatest players make snooker look easy. Zhao looks to be in the mould of peak O'Sullivan or Trump in this mood. Sauntering around the table as a picture of calm.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-5 Zhao (0-16)

Zhao with the honour of breaking off in frame number eight. Judd would dearly love to limit the damage, but another stunning Zhao long red is followed by the black off spot. More pain for Trump.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-4 Zhao (0-98)

A 98 break to go with the 91 in the previous frame is wonderful from Zhao in moving three frames clear in the blink of an eye. One more frame to come in the first session.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-4 Zhao (0-63)

Trump will be disappointed as he hasn't really forced Zhao to work for these chances. At close range, he is even more lethal than his destructive long game.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-4 Zhao (0-40)

Judd is faltering badly under pressure as he misses another pottable red after Zhao fails to drop in a yellow. Xintong handed another chance to get hand on table. Reds are opened up delightfully, and the Chinese talent suddenly looks good to move three clear.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-3 Zhao (6-91)

This has been clinical from the world champion, who almost flukes a red on 91. A short-range red is missed by Trump, and his opponent did the rest. The two-frame lead is again restored.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-3 Zhao (6-39)

Judd missing far too many easy balls out there. And this could be so costly if he allows Zhao to gain some momentum in this final. The world champion mopping up the Trump tears at the moment.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-2 Zhao (35-65)

Well then, Trump blew a golden chance to clear up, and it looks like it is going to cost him the frame as Zhao is handed chance to get over the line. Judd looks on, but will know that is one frame that got away. Neither men really feeling the flow so far, but the world champion leads by the odd frame in five.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-2 Zhao (35-40)

Trump taking the chance to halve this deficit in the frame. Six reds left on table as Judd screws back to land on the next red. A few more reds are in play. Suddenly, a big chance to win a third straight frame for the world No. 1, but he loses the white in prime position.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 2-2 Zhao (7-40)

Zhao on the move ahead again here early in the fifth frame. Not much seems to disturb him. Especially when he is potting balls with ease, but he misses red to right middle trying to hold for the black.

Tour Championship LIVE - Is this a world final dress rehearsal?

The two most consistent players of the season meet in the Tour Championship final on Sunday. World No. 1 Judd Trump continued his quest for a first Tour triumph with a 10-4 victory over Neil Robertson on Friday, while world champion Zhao ended John Higgins' title defence with a clinical 10-1 drubbing on Saturday. Both men are seeded to face each other in the 50th Crucible final next month.

Is Trump v Zhao's Tour Championship clash a dress rehearsal for World final?

05/04/2026 at 09:59

Latest: Trump 2-2 Zhao (0-0)

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 1-2 Zhao (70-13)

Judd doing Judd things now, and this fascinating duel is going to be 2-2 at the mid-session interval. Perhaps a good time for both men to take stock, but 49 from Judd in the fourth frame. He will be happier with the scoreline. All level at Manchester Central.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 1-2 Zhao (42-13)

Judd presented with another chance as Zhao again misfires at a key moment. Good news for Trump is that Zhao has gone off the boil a bit too out there.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 1-2 Zhao (21-13)

Will feel like a bit of a result if Judd can get out of this frame at 2-2, But he isn't on the red he played for. Safety is the alternative for the world No. 1, who is finding this all a bit of a struggle out there.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 1-2 Zhao (2-13)

Judd drains a long red, but long blue is well off the potting angle. Another opportunity presents itself to Zhao, who then misses an easy pink. Well. that is a massive miss. How big a moment will that prove to be?

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 1-2 Zhao (1-12)

Zhao up and running after Judd can't add to his early red. Heads into the reds off the blue, but ends up on nothing. Just safety to follow.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (66-6)

Zhao sinks a fine cut on a red, but ends up going in off. He nods to Trump that will do us for the frame, and the world No. 1 is on the scoreboard at 2-1 behind. Which is a bit better off than John Higgins, who won his first frame trailing 9-0 yesterday. One more frame to come before the mid-sesh.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (62-6)

Judd on the cusp of winning frame, but he loses position and is forced to declare on 61. A fine safety shot in response. 56 clear with a possible 59 remaining. Judd refuses a frame red ball to right middle as he knocks red onto side rail.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (29-6)

Excellent pot on a red by Trump to sink a red with white so close to the object ball. Chance then to build a healthy lead in this third frame of a possible 19.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (2-6)

Zhao is quite a handy safety player. Not just a prodigious potter. Can mix it up with his aggressive approach to the game. Another safety error by Judd sees a white come back off a middle jaw. What is Zhao going to unearth here? Pink and black will need freeing up. But he misses the black along top cushion. Was far from easy.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (1-0)

Black has gone safe so this could be quite a scrappy frame. Which might not be the worst thing for Judd at the moment.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-2 Zhao (0-0)

A slight safety error by Zhao to leave a red over a top bag, but Trump can't get to the potting angle. Zhao happy to wait for his moment to come along.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-1 Zhao (0-91)

Well, this is looking very ominous for Trump as Zhao heads for a 2-0 lead. 68 the magic number in this second frame. The world champion with breaks of 64 and 68. On cruise control at the moment. Looks well in command of matters. Will Trump try to turn this into a tactical battle? Easier said than done if you are not on point with the safety game.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-1 Zhao (0-46)

The pressure on the Trump safety game is immense. If he doesn't get the white back to baulk, there is a fair chance he will be punished. And that is what is happening here. Any errors coming off the Trump cue is being regally punished.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-1 Zhao (0-24)

Eight frames to be played in this opening session. And Zhao starts this second frame with a long red of some quality. Could have won that previous frame inside seven minutes. How far does he travel here? And the answer is not very far. 24 points before he loses the white.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (34-73)

Would you believe this? Judd sticks Zhao in another testing snooker, and he misses final red off a side rail. Suddenly the frame is back in the mixer. Trump getting three snookers he needed. But Zhao gets the snooker back with a fabulous safety shot of his own. A snooker and Judd doesn't escape. In goes the final red, and that will be a 1-0 lead to the world champion.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (30-68)

Judd fighting the good fight here. Back to 38 points behind with two fouls back in his locker. Needs a third to breathe new life in this opening frame. Still one red on board. Trump would dearly love another snooker as not much is safe here if that can be achieved.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (0-68)

64 from Zhao is the opening contribution in this final as red to left middle doesn't drop. Should be enough for the first frame, but Judd retains interest with five reds left on deck.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (0-54)

Judd was looking to make a fast start to the day, but it is Zhao laying down an early marker here as he reaches 54 in no time at all.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (0-10)

Judd sees a white go in off after slotting a fine long red. Which is unfortunate. Zhao responds by canning an excellent opening red of his own from distance. Chance for the world champion to get hand on table.

Tour Championship LIVE - Trump 0-0 Zhao (0-4)

So Storm Dave has been battering the UK over the Easter weekend, but today we have the 'Cyclone' ready to hit Manchester with a force of potting power that could topple anything in its wake. Question is, does Judd Trump have the minerals to fend off Zhao Xintong following his 10-1 butchering of John Higgins on Saturday?