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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tied 4-4 after the\u00a0first 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other table, China’s Wu Yize established a 6-2 advantage over Chris Wakelin in a match which concludes on Tuesday evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Judd Trump won a match in the Tour Championship for the first time since 2020 as he came<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[378],"class_list":["post-11067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-snooker"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t