Judd Trump’s defence of his Cazoo Champion of Champions title continued as he overcame Luca Brecel and Mark Allen to book his place in Friday’s semi-final at the University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton live on ITV4 in the UK and on broadcasters worldwide.
The Ace in the Pack took the afternoon with relative ease as he stepped past the Scottish Open champion Brecel 4-2 whilst his opponent in the Group 1 final Allen got the better of Welsh Open winner Joe Perry by the same scoreline to set up a blockbuster evening clash.
Trump was quick out the blocks in the group one final to take the opener with breaks of 58 and 54 to leave Allen frozen in his chair. The momentum was in Trump’s favour as he soon made that 2-0 with a contribution of 78 in the second and then 64 in the third. Allen was in trouble but the first century of the match ensured he wasn’t down 4-0 at the interval.
After the break, it was much more of the same from Trump who only dropped five frames in the whole of last year’s tournament. Trump was free-flowing as he made 104 in the fifth and 79 in the sixth without response from Allen on both instances to be on the cusp of the semi-finals. Allen admitted afterwards there was not much he could’ve done to get back in the game and it was clear Trump was on a one-man mission as he rattled in a final break of 79 to complete his work 6-1.
“It was a good standard. Even when the frames where Mark got in first I managed to sort of get in an clear up. It puts a lot of pressure on. When I got in, I was scoring heavy. It was nice to replicate what I have been doing in practice out there in such a special tournament. It was another amazing time to play Mark Selby next. Mark got through his group. It’s a mouth watering match. It’s something when you come into this tournament it’s all the top players who have won events. I think that’s what drives me and inspires me to play well.”
On the Puma Golf shirts: “It’s so nice to feel restriction free. It’s nice to play in what we practice in. To play out there and feel free. I enjoy myself. I feel my best was last year and I played amazing in this tournament.”
Trump’s win sees him set up a tantalising semi-final meeting with Mark Selby on Friday evening. Before then, Ronnie O’Sullivan meets Robert Milkins and Zhao Xintong will take on Mink Nutcharut to determine the last semi-finalist from Group 2 tomorrow. Live on ITV4 in the UK, DAZN in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Spain, and Italy as well as on Viaplay in Scandinavia and the Baltics and Matchroom.Live if you are in a country without a broadcaster. See the full list of where to watch here.
