Judd Trump (Photo by Martin Rulsch)
Judd Trump won a match in the Tour Championship for the first time since 2020 as he came from 4-0 down to beat Mark Allen 10-8 in the opening round in Manchester.
The event has brought little joy for world number one Trump as he won just one match in the tournament’s inaugural year in 2020 and then suffered a series of first round exits. But he has now ended that streak and set up a quarter-final with Shaun Murphy at Manchester Central on Wednesday.
After a slow start today, Trump impressed with three centuries and five more breaks over 60 as he won ten of the last 13 frames. While the 36-year-old has lifted only one trophy this season, at the German Masters in February, he has been in three other finals and four more semi-finals.
“The first four frames were scrappy, after that we both played some really good stuff, it was an enjoyable game,” said 31-time ranking event winner Trump. “At 4-0 I was just waiting for good opportunities, then I made one break and settled down. At 4-4 I was delighted and tonight was a great standard. I have been consistent for the last five or six months, I have had a lot of semis and finals, I am happy with my form.”
Tied 4-4 after the first session, Allen took the opening frame tonight with a break of 121, before Trump hit back for 5-5 then nicked the 11th on a respotted black to lead for the first time in the match. The high scoring continued as Allen made another 121 for 6-6 before Trump regained the advantage with a 114.
Allen led 42-0 in frame 14 when he overcut a tricky red to a top corner, and Trump punished him with an excellent 86 clearance for 8-6. Allen pulled one back, then in the 16th Trump led 41-0 when he converted an excellent long red to a top corner and added 67 to move to the edge of victory at 9-7.
The Englishman had a match winning chance in the 17th, missing a mid-range red at 35-0 and Allen kept his own hopes alive with a 79 clearance. But Trump made no mistake in the next frame, wrapping up the result with a run of 100.
On the other table, China’s Wu Yize established a 6-2 advantage over Chris Wakelin in a match which concludes on Tuesday evening.
Wu, age 22, is enjoying his breakthrough season having won his maiden ranking title at the International Championship and climbed into the world’s top 16 for the first time.
And he showed his quality again tonight as breaks of 73, 74, 84, 75 and 81 edged him closer to a possible quarter-final with Zhao Xintong.
Meanwhile, Barry Hawkins came from 3-2 down to earn a 5-3 lead over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a match which plays to a conclusion on Tuesday afternoon.
Un-Nooh enjoyed his biggest career moment eight days ago when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the World Open, and that victory earned him a place in Manchester this week. He could even climb into the official top 16 in time for the World Championship if he lands another top prize this week.
Welsh Open champion Hawkins took an early 2-1 lead before Thailand’s Un-Nooh made a 103 in frame four then add the fifth to go ahead. But Hawkins dominated the last three with top breaks of 79 and 86 to take an overnight lead.
