Trump Triumphant In Shanghai
Judd Trump demolished Shaun Murphy 11-5 to win the Shanghai Masters for the first time in his career.
Victory ends a string of heartbreaking final defeats in Shanghai for the Ace in the Pack. He surrendered a 7-3 lead to lose the 2012 final 10-9 against John Higgins. Trump then suffered another 10-9 defeat against Kyren Wilson in 2015 and was beaten 10-3 by Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2017.
Trump had his revenge on the Rocket in the semi-finals this year, bringing to end an incredible winning run. O’Sullivan had won 21 consecutive matches and four straight titles in the event until running into Trump, who thrashed him 10-3 in the last four.
The Englishman was making his first appearance of the season, but has been in sparkling form from the off. He fired in a record ten centuries during the event, beating O’Sullivan’s previous record of eight. Trump pockets £210,000 for the top prize.
Defeat for Murphy means he will have to wait for maiden Shanghai glory. The Magician has now been runner-up on two occasions, having lost the 2019 final at the hands of O’Sullivan. He departs Shanghai with the £101,000 runner-up prize.
Much of the damage was done in the afternoon session, when Trump put on an electric display to move 7-1 ahead. However, Murphy dug deep to take the last two and end 7-3 behind coming into tonight.
When play got underway this evening, Trump re-asserted his dominance and fired in runs of 61, 86 and 114 to move just one from victory at 10-3.
Once again Murphy refused to wilt in the wake of a break building barrage. He crafted consecutive century runs of 110 and 101 to remain in the hunt at 10-5. The comeback was shortlived though, with Trump stamping out any resistance to take the 16th and win 11-5.
More follows…
