JUDD TRUMP WINS 2021 CAZOO CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

JUDD TRUMP WINS 2021 CAZOO CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

November 21st, 2021

 

Judd Trump 10-4 John Higgins

0-100 (73), 0-86, 43-75, 76-0 (63), 100-32 (62), 61-1 (61), 74-6, 66-0, 0-70 (70), 74-9 (74), 71-24, 85-47 (51), 117-0 (68), 73-23 (59)

Judd Trump wins the Cazoo Champion of Champions 

Judd Trump has won the 2021 Cazoo Champion of Champions beating John Higgins in the final 10-4 at the Bolton Whites Hotel, the University of Bolton Stadium live on ITV4.

Trump beat David Lilley and Ryan Day on Monday to move through the group stage before dispatching Kyren Wilson 6-0 on Friday evening to set up a final clash with Higgins in front of a sell-out crowd in their first meeting in a final since the 2019 World Championship.

The Ace in the Pack lifted the Cazoo Champion of Champions trophy for the first time in three attempts along with a cheque for £150,000 with a dominant win over the four-time World Champion.

The afternoon session began at pace as Higgins pressed into a 3-0 lead with a notable break of 73 in the first keeping Trump seated until the third frame. Trump hit back though before the end of the afternoon session though taking five frames on the spin to head into the evening session 5-4 up to the 2016 champion.

“The atmosphere has been incredible for a new venue; it’s been up there with one of the best tournaments we’ve ever played in.” – Judd Trump

Trump only lost five frames all week and picked up from where he’d left off in the afternoon session with a break of 74 to stretch his lead to 6-4 and soon 7-4 to be three away from victory. It was one-way traffic for much of the evening session until the 12th frame when it seemed Higgins was starting to find something, but his break stopped at 47 as Trump pressed on to eventually take the frame 85-47 after a brief safety battle and a break of 51 to move two away from the title.

The World No.2 has faced disappointment twice in the 2014 and 2019 finals, but history wasn’t going to repeat itself with Trump in a rampant mood making 68 in the penultimate frame to put him on the brink and leave Higgins without a point for a third frame on the night.

He went on to complete the win with his 10th frame out of the last 11 to secure the title with a break of 59: “It’s an amazing feeling to get this one under my belt. The crowd here has been amazing for a new venue. There’s been the support has been superb for every player, I think. We both felt that the noise was amazing. It was so exciting to lay in a final. I felt like I was in a bit of a drought that everyone keeps saying. John has been amazing all season. I think John was in control early on but missed one or two he wouldn’t normally miss. Any win against John is incredible. He was always someone I admired when I was growing up.”

“I thought Judd was awesome. If I am being hypercritical. When I went 3-1 up, I had a couple of chances that you’ve got to capitalise on against somebody as good as Judd, but I went walkabout for three or four frames. Judd just grew and grew in strength and then he just blitzed me tonight. Far too good.”

“I got off to a great start, I missed a couple, and it went sort of pear-shaped. I’d like to give a special mention to the Bolton crowd. For the whole week, I think for all the players, the atmosphere they’ve created it’s been one of the best weeks I’ve played as a snooker professional, every credit to them. Brilliant,” added Higgins.

Higgins has now made three finals in his last three outings: “There’s obviously an achievement but you want to win events. It’s not a great feeling, I can hold my hands up and say I’ve lost to three unbelievable champions.”

“Any win against John is special. There have been times when I was first coming through where I’ve been 4-0 up, 7-2 up, and every time he comes back and beats me there was a bad one in Shanghai, I will never forget but it’s put me in the position that I am today. I still learn and I am still willing to learn from him. I have the utmost respect for John.

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