Semi-Final 2
Judd Trump 6-4 Neil Roberts
on
1-71 (65), 70-1, 66-63 (Robertson 49, Trump 36 & 30), 72-55 (Robertson 31, Trump 45), 20-65 (53), 74-54 (Robertson 54, Trump 33), 8-64 (39), 69-31 (Robertson 31, Trump 56), 0-118 (117), 71-62 (Robertson 38, Trump 51)
JUDD TRUMP recorded a thrilling victory over Neil Robertson to book his place in the Sunday’s final at the Dafabet Champion of Champions, winning through 6-4 including a nail-biting 43 minute final frame.
Essex-based Trump, watched by his parents, can now look forward to a meeting with Ronnie O’Sullivan, who had earlier beaten Ding Junhui, to determine the destination of the £100,000 top prize.
After losing the opener, Trump won the next three including two close ones to take a 3-1 lead into the mid-session interval. Robertson stayed with him though, a break of 53 clinching the fifth frame, but Trump kept the two-frame lead intact as he took the next.
They shared the next two before Robertson compiled the best break of the match – a 117 – to stay in the match. All the drama came in what was the last as Robertson looked in the driving seat before a miss let Trump in with a match winning chance.
He took the break to 51 but ran out of position to play safe on the pink. Both players had numerous visits as the safeties went back and forth but it was Trump who deposited the final black to take the frame and match.
Commented Trump; “I didn’t play very well so I am just really happy to have got through. I knew I had to win that frame, I wasn’t confident if it went 5-5, I felt Neil would have probably won it. For me to pot that black, I was under a lot of pressure, so I will take a lot from that.
“I think it will be an attacking final. Hopefully I can play better than I have today, get on with it and have a quick game with a lot of scoring,” he added.
The Final – Sunday 9th November
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Judd Trump (13.00 & 19.00)
(Best of 19 frames, 9 afternoon, 10 evening)
