- By Steve Sutcliffe
- ` Sport
January 9, 2024
Updated 19 minutes ago
image source, Getty Images
image description,
Judd Trump's two Masters titles came in 2019 and 2023
|
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London. Dates: 7th – 14th January |
|
Coverage: Watch live on ` TV, ` iPlayer, ` Red Button and online; Live text broadcast of the final on Sunday, January 14th. |
Judd Trump recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a deciding set in the final frame against Kyren Wilson as he began the defense of his Masters title at Alexandra Palace.
Wilson enjoyed runs of 65 and 76 to gain a healthy lead, while Trump struggled to find his rhythm early on.
However, Trump then made breaks of 52, 101 and 83 as he reeled off the next five frames.
Wilson took the next two before the world number two fired a 65 to secure a thrilling 6-5 win.
On Tuesday night, Barry Hawkins beat Neil Robertson 6-3 in a repeat of the 2022 final, setting up a quarter-final with Ronnie O'Sullivan on Thursday.
Meanwhile, two-time winner Trump will face Ali Carter in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Trump's performance was reminiscent of 12 months ago when he battled through the early rounds before securing his second Masters title with a 10-8 victory over Mark Williams.
“It was a strange game – it was a blast the whole time,” Trump told ` Sport.
“I just fought not to fall behind 4-0. With the score at 5:4, Kyren managed an incredible equalizer to make it 5:5.”
“I was pretty nervous out there from the start. At one point I couldn’t even mark my cue.” [in the final frame]. During this last break I was on my way home [when Wilson made 51] He took a small risk and was unlucky to leave the gap.
“You would think with my experience you would get over the nerves, but coming here, to the World Cup or to Great Britain, it's a different feeling. You just don’t want to be eliminated in the first round.”
Hawkins' victory adds to Robertson's miserable campaign
Australia's Robertson has largely had a season to forget. His loss to Hawkins is the latest in a string of first-round tournament exits that have left him at No. 88 on the one-year list as he endures arguably the worst run of his career.
The two-time winner had hoped that a first Christmas in his home country since 2009 would motivate him, but he appeared to lack the necessary punch against the Englishman, who won the European Masters earlier in the season.
Robertson, who averaged more than 40 seconds per shot and posted a highest break score of 32 in the first five frames, posted a wonderfully fluid score of 117 in the sixth frame.
For a moment it looked like it would be the catalyst for a comeback when Robertson followed up with a great 110 to get back to 4-3.
Hawkins, who had earlier built runs of 54 and 96 to take a 4-1 lead, responded with a timely break of 69 to extend a two-frame deficit back to 5-3, and made it through a lengthy last Frame a 57 to earn Robertson his first win in a match of this distance since 2018.
“I haven't beaten Neil in a long time so it's really pleasing to do it here,” Hawkins said.
“We all know he had a hard time getting in shape. There was a bit of pressure at the start of the game so it was nice to beat him. He's not full of confidence, but he's shown signs of coming back.” Me.
“What an occasion to look forward to [against O’Sullivan]. This is really his tournament, I have to step it up a notch.
Wilson regrets missing the opportunity
While Wilson was beaten 6-1 by Trump in the quarterfinals of this tournament two years ago, the manner of this defeat may be harder to swallow.
After establishing a commanding position, the 2018 finalist allowed Trump to re-enter the contest, but was unable to reassert his authority due to a missed shot on a tricky red in the lower left corner and two poor safety shots on the green in consecutive Frames proved costly.
With the momentum clearly in Trump's favor, Wilson prevailed in a thrilling ninth frame that extended the match and then managed a sensational 58-point clearance to set up a thrilling finale.
But an attempt to cut a difficult red into the right-center pocket resulted in it catching the wide jaw and allowing Trump to overturn a 55-0 deficit that left Wilson a brave loser.
“I should have scored a little more at 3-0,” Wilson said.
“I'm disappointed I didn't finish it. I should have done that. This is how my season went. It was exactly the same all year long. I just can't believe I let the red through the gap and that sums it up my season – but I give Judd all the credit.”
- Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news on the ` app.
Comments are closed.