In the 2020 British Championship final, Neil Robertson defeated Judd Trump 10-9 in an epic match. So what do the celebrities personally think are the most exciting Finals of the British Championship? Let's take a look at what they have to say...
European sports and ITV commentator David Hendon
1. 1990 – Stephen Hendry 16:15 Steve Davis
"The two of them have never met in a World Championship final before, but they have had two encounters in the British Championship final, which is also a wonderful final like Mars hitting the earth. It was a great game, not only because of the high level and excitement of the game, but also the rich meaning behind the game. This is a decisive battle between the old king and the new king at the time of the "change of dynasty". Hendry was already a World Champion at the time, but the British Championship final was still an important moment for him. Trailing 14-15, he scored a crucial blue ball with a pole to drag the game into the decider. I believe that most players will not choose to play like this, but this also reflects Hendry's dare to play the king style. Hendry seized the opportunity and then won in the decider. It was first and foremost a great game. On final night, the two of them walked out with Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" singing. The lyrics of the song sum up the meaning behind the game, which is 'you have a player who dominated the first decade, and the player who continues to dominate the next decade has arrived'. ”
Former Masters champion Alain McManus
"Actually, I watched the game on YouTube while I was in home quarantine during COVID-19. The first thing to say is that Thorne played very well. He played in a very avant-garde way at the time and was very keen on attacking. He scored a total of three hundreds and nine 50+ in the game. For an era when he wasn't very offensive, he finished the final in the most radical way you'd expect, and Thorne did particularly well in the third stage, in fact he was brilliant throughout the game. He completely outcame Davis at that stage to take a 13-8 lead. In the first inning of the fourth stage, he lost that blue ball, and if he had scored a blue ball, he would almost certainly have led 14-8. The mistake of this blue ball led to a fundamental change in the situation of the whole game. After that inning, they went back to the studio, and John Spencer said we might look back at the missed blue ball after tonight's game. The truth is, we're still looking back on it nearly 40 years later. It's a sigh that this scene almost defined Thorne's career. Davis is the kind of person who has a strong ability to seize opportunities, and after the game, Davis also admitted that he was pressed throughout the game, but he did the limit he could reach, and finally turned the game to win the championship. With his defeat to Dennis Taylor in the World Championship final earlier that year, the victory in this match was particularly important for Davis. ”
3. 2011 – Judd Trump 10:8 Mark Allen
"This final also marks the dawn of a new era. Trump reached the final of the World Championships earlier that year, and his performance in the final really attracted a lot of spectators. When watching the final again, both Trump and Allen looked incredibly young. These are two fearless young players. On the night of the final, Allen scored three-shot breakers and one-shot 90+ from 3:8 behind, at one point close to drawing Trump, which was truly breathtaking. Trump left him only one chance in those sets, while Allen completed the extremely difficult clearance. Back at 9:8, Trump scored a gorgeous clearance of 91 points to seal the title. The victory was in many ways more impressive than his reaching the final of the World Championships. All eyes were fixed on him, and he managed to live up to expectations. While Trump didn't usher in the era of snooker domination by him immediately after that, the good news is that he has now done so. ”
1. 1990 - Stephen Hendry 16:15 Steve Davis
"It was my first year as a pro, so I remember it very clearly. Even though Hendry has just become world number one, the result of this game still feels like a test for Hendry. Playing Davis in the 'Big Three' final is a huge opportunity. In my opinion, Davis is still not old, and Hendry is the new world champion. This match is also the ultimate test for the two of them. That blue ball is still talked about today. I remember when David Wayne interviewed them afterwards, when Stephen (Hendry) said he didn't know how he ended up clearing the stage because his whole body was shaking nervously. I was young at the time, and I couldn't help but think about how he (Hendry) did it. "Guild Hall" is a historic arena that has played many classic finals, and this one is one of them. ”
2. 2014 – Ronnie O'Sullivan 10:9 Judd Trump
"These two guys have had some great games in the last three or four years, but this one was special. When Trump was trailing 4-9, the score wasn't too outrageous in terms of Trump's form at the time. Suddenly, Trump was in his prime. It was unbelievable to chase the score to 9:9. O'Sullivan lived up to expectations at the last minute, defended his dignity and won the tiebreaker. Considering that O'Sullivan has always been a good offensive player, Trump's five consecutive innings are even more impressive. Many of O'Sullivan's big wins were early on. At that time, he was still honored, but he showed in that game that he could also do his best in adversity. We often overlook his character, after all, his extraordinary talent obscures everything else. Not only is he a great offensive player, but he also has his own personality and he showed that there. ”
Former world third Neil Fultz
"I wasn't going to pick this one because it was a little too new, but in the end I chose it. Although there were no spectators in the game at the time, you can't deny that the dramatic scenes shown by these two players in this game were also quite wonderful. It was great to see two good players wrestling in the final to the last innings. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, it was great to see the British Championship final played in such an avant-garde and shocking way. For this reason, I thought about it or chose this one. It's also quite rare for a thrilling final to rely on a pink ball to decide the winner or loser. This was one of the greatest British Championship finals of all time. ”
1. 1993 – Ronnie O'Sullivan 10:6 Stephen Hendry
"The race was chosen out of consideration for age, and it was this game that made O'Sullivan the youngest ranking champion in history at the age of 17. This is also the day when the '92nd Class' really appeared in front of the public. We realized that not only O'Sullivan but also Williams and Higgins were a really good bunch of players. Winning the British Championship at that age was a very remarkable achievement. We know O'Sullivan is a genius, but it was this game that drew attention to what he could achieve in the sport. ”
2. 1988 – Doug Monte jojo 16:12 Stephen Hendry
"I think there was a certain personal element in choosing this game because before this game, I had played doug at the previous World Championships. I beat him in a 25-inning match. It seems to me that he has completely collapsed. I played him again at that year's Championship and he beat me 9-4. I thought my race might have gone downhill, but Doug wasn't affected by it. Doug completely turned his game around under the direction of Frank Callan. He shot three consecutive shots against Hendry to break the hundred, which was a remarkable performance. He died earlier this year and people have forgotten what an amazing player he was. At that time, Hendry was still on the rise and did not reach his peak. It was a great victory and showed what you could achieve. Doug played well in that game, making an effort at the age of 46 and reaping the rewards. ”
3. 2005 – Ding Junhui 10:6 Steve Davis
"It's an 18-year-old against a 48-year-old. Davis probably played the best game of his career in this game. It's weird because you're thinking about his early years, and you wouldn't think he'd be able to have that kind of strength at 48. He eliminated defending champion Stephen Maguire to have a final result. The game may not have been a bit of luck for him. Ding became the first overseas player outside the UK and Ireland to win the British Championship, and now he has won three British Championships, and Neil Robertson himself has won three. I think Ding Junhui will definitely win that final, but it's a story between a new star and an old ball king. I remember when I was working at the BBC, I saw Ding Junhui as a figure who would stir up trouble in the game. He's in a way, but so far he hasn't won that near-perfect world title. ”