Zhao Xintong of China boldened his status as the best player in the world on current form as he thrashed Judd Trump 10-3 in the final of the Tour Championship, becoming the first man to win all three events in the Players Series in the same season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xintong was imperious all week in Manchester, conceding just eight frames on his way to the title as he showcased his tremendous long potting and seemingly effortless break-building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He beat Chris Wakelin 10-4 before dismantling John Higgins 10-1 – the heaviest defeat of Higgins’ career – then comfortably saw off an out-of-sorts Trump. A fierce battle was expected today between the World Champion and world number one, but it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Zhao pulled away from 5-3 to win the last five frames in the evening session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump admitted: “Over the last two months Zhao has been the best player in the world. I always enjoy the challenge, it’s up to me to go away and try to improve.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a relatively quiet first half to this season, highlighted only by winning the invitational Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in November, in recent weeks 29-year-old Xintong has recaptured the form which made him the first Asian to conquer the Crucible last Spring. In February he won both the World Grand Prix and Players Championship, and he has now completed an unprecedented hat-trick of Players Series titles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The top prize of \u00a3150,000 takes Xintong’s prize money for this season past the \u00a31 million mark, and he climbs to a career high of fourth in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings. He could even take over as world number one in Sheffield, albeit only if he lands the \u00a3500,000 jackpot and Trump goes out in the first round.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xintong has now won his first six ranking finals – previously only achieved by Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson – and on the all-time list he is now level with Ken Doherty, Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter. The left-hander becomes the 12th player to win three ranking titles in a single season, and surely now heads to the Crucible as the clear favourite.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump misses out on a 32nd ranking title, which would have brought him within one of Higgins in fourth place on the all-time list, and has now lost 22 ranking finals. He has landed the German Masters crown this season, but the 36-year-old has finished second best at the Northern Ireland Open, Champion of Champions, UK Championship and now this event in Manchester, where he had never previously reached the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trailing 5-3 after the\u00a0first session, Trump had a chance to take the opener tonight but ran out of position on 47. The frame came down to the last red and Zhao converted a clever double to a centre pocket then cleared to extend his lead. Runs of 45 and 39 in the next made it 7-3.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In frame 11, Xintong was on 63 when he lost position, and Trump’s attempted clearance ended when he failed to dislodge the last red from a side cushion. The Englishman later played a weak safety on the red, and his opponent knocked it in from distance and went further ahead. The key moment of the 12th came when Trump, trailing 33-21, overcut a short range red to a top corner, handing Xintong the chance to add 37 and go 9-3 in front at the interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another opportunity went astray for Trump in frame 13, missing the black off its spot on 30, and he later failed on another red to a top corner when trailing 32-30, then could only watch Xintong’s run of 51 clinched the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xintong said:\u00a0“Judd is my favourite player, I know he is very good. I am really happy just to play a final against him and I am lucky to win one. It’s an amazing moment for my career. Manchester is a very good city and the crowd has been amazing. I am just trying to enjoy the snooker table. This win is very important for me, I didn’t want to lose in the final. Next it’s the World Championship and hopefully I can keep going.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump added: “I didn’t perform today, for whatever reason. I’m just disappointed because the crowd spurred me on. Zhao has had an amazing tournament, he has been brilliant in these three (Players Series) events and won them all very convincingly. It’s nice to see someone from China come through, in the way he plays. He’s going to be around for a long time, it’s up to me and the other players to play well against him otherwise he’s going to end his career with 100 tournaments. There will be a lot of practice for me over the next two weeks and hopefully I will turn up at the World Championship ready to go.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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