Trump Crowned with Classic Clearance
Judd Trump produced one of the all-time great pressure clearances to defeat Mark Williams 10-9 and become the inaugural winner of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
The duo put on one of the most dramatic finales to a tournament in recent years, with the Green Halls in Riyadh witnessing an epic deciding frame.
With a top prize of £500,000 on the line and the runner-up taking home £200,000, the £300,000 differential made it the most lucrative single frame in the history of snooker.
Despite the enormous pressure, it was Williams who embarked on a seemingly nerveless break with the match on the line. However, he missed a difficult red to the top left on 62 to leave Trump his opportunity. He ruthlessly deposited a difficult red to the left middle and cleared to the black with 72 to secure a glorious victory.
The win sees Trump make history by capturing his 29th career ranking title, moving him clear of Steve Davis, who is on 28. Only John Higgins (31), Stephen Hendry (36) and Ronnie O’Sullivan (41) have won more ranking crowns than the Bristolian.
This week marks the continuation of a phenomenal start to the season for Trump. He defeated Shaun Murphy in the final of his first event of the campaign at the Shanghai Masters. Trump was then denied another piece of silverware in the Xi’an Grand Prix final against World Champion Kyren Wilson. He has now won 15 of his first 16 matches this term.
Despite the agonising manner of his defeat, 49-year-old Williams leaves Riyadh having climbed from ninth to sixth position in the world rankings. Trump now moves well clear at the summit.
It was Trump who came into this evening leading 5-3. The first two frames tonight were traded, before three-time World Champion Williams made a superb 101 on his way to taking two on the bounce leaving him level at 6-6 heading into the mid-session.
When play resumed, a break of 77 from Williams gave him the lead for the first time since taking the opening frame.
The Welshman had the first opportunity in the 14th, but broke down on 30 after missing a delicate red to the right middle. Trump stepped up and fired in a break of 76 to move all square at 7-7.
Both players had chances in the next, but a missed plant from Williams spread the reds far and wide and Trump obliged with a frame winning 65 to hit the front once more at 8-7.
Williams refused to go away and drew level again at 8-8 to set up a grandstand finish. He then made his move with a stunning 138 total clearance to move claw within a frame of victory at 9-8.
It was Trump’s turn to dig deep in the 18th, making a steely 90, which set up the astonishing drama which followed. After prevailing in a thrilling final frame Trump uncharacteristically punched the air with delight.
Trump said: “To be honest I’m not someone who gets emotional after I win, but there was so much elation there. I had my back to the wall the whole game. That feeling when the black went in was disbelief. There was so much adrenaline pumping in my body. It is probably the happiest I’ve ever been to win a tournament. It was an incredible feeling and one that I won’t forget for a while.”
Trump added: “With it being the last frame and having not played my best snooker all day, I would probably put that top of the best clearances in my career. To produce that under the utmost pressure is such a nice feeling. It is a big event which I looked like I was going to lose. I managed to turn it around in the end.
“I’m incredibly proud to be the first winner here. My record in new events is very good and I had that in the back of my mind. I always have that bit of self-belief in there when I really need it. I managed to rely on that today and make that incredible clearance.”
Williams said: “I nearly had a good break in the last. It was a red I fancied getting, but it wasn’t as if I twitched, I hit it well and thought it was in. It just shows what a great champion he is, what a break he has made there. For half a million pounds, 62 behind and two reds safe. What can I say? Congratulations to him.”
