Trump in semis after a thriller

Judd Trump won a deciding frame for the first time this season, at the ninth attempt, to score a dramatic 10-9 victory over Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals of the Tour Championship in Manchester.

Surprisingly world number one Trump had lost eight deciders in a row this season, and could have finished second best again tonight as Murphy had the first clear chance at 9-9, but couldn’t take it and an excellent break of 59 from Trump put him into the semi-finals to face Neil Robertson or Barry Hawkins on Friday. The left-hander has now won ten of his last 11 meetings with Murphy.

Though he has only one title to his name this season, the German Masters, 36-year-old Trump has reached a consistently high level in recent months and is into his sixth ranking semi-final since October. While today’s performance was far from his best, he will surely take confidence from coming through a quality contest which included four centuries and 12 more breaks over 50.

Trump took the opening frame to lead 5-4 and he had a scoring chance in the next but missed a red to a top corner on 24 and Murphy battled back to 5-5, then took the next two with breaks of 69 and 127.

Trump recovered with 62 and 86 for 7-7, then Murphy won the 15th to regain the lead and was first among the balls in the next but made only 28 before over-cutting an awkward black. Trump punished him with a run of 90 to square the tie, and another error from Murphy early in frame 17, failing on a red to a top corner, handed his opponent the chance to make 137 for 9-8.

Murphy’s rapid 96 set up the decider, and he looked favourite until he ran out of position on 30, trying to split the pack. He attempted a shot-for-nothing double to a centre pocket, but the red caught the near jaw and finished close to a baulk corner. That gave Trump his opening and his cool 59 proved enough. 

“It was a bit nervy in that last frame, there were times in the match where I thought it was getting away from me,” said Trump, who is looking to reach the final of this event for the first time.

“After the interval tonight I played better and was able to compete more. There is still a lot to improve on, my long potting was not great. 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. 

“The break in the last frame was tricky, the first few shots were difficult under pressure. Having not won a decider all season it was tough. In my most successful seasons I have won nearly all of my deciding frames and that can give you a lifeline in touraments.

I have been consistent this season but it could have been a lot better. It’s difficult when you keep going back to your hotel room after a tough loss so to it’s nice to get one finally. When you lose your first couple of deciders in a season you just lose that confidence and self belief and that changes everything. Hopefully this win will make it easier next time.”  

Murphy said: “I think I would have won against pretty much anyone else, Judd is not the world number one by mistake, he has that extra resilience. Lady luck plays a big part in snooker. I really fancied the double in the decider, the red could have gone anywhere but it ended up over the corner pocket.”

On the other table, World Champion Zhao Xintong opened up a 5-3 lead over Chris Wakelin in a match which concludes later today evening. Having won the World Grand Prix and Players Championship, China’s Xintong is looking to become the first man to win all three Players Series events in the same season. 

Breaks of 103 and 93 helped Xintong go 3-0 ahead before Wakelin pulled one back with a 76. After the interval, Xintong made a 58 in going 4-1 ahead then Scottish Open champion Wakelin took frame six.

A superb 120, his 70th century of the season, put Xintong 5-2 clear before England’s Wakelin made a 57 in taking the last of the session.

In another quarter-final tie, Neil Robertson has also taken a slim 5-3 lead over Barry Hawkins.