Judd Trump Edges John Higgins in Decider to Reach UK Championship Quarter-Finals

Posted : 29 November 2024

Judd Trump advanced to the quarter-finals of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship with a thrilling 6-5 victory over John Higgins. The world number one continued his recent dominance over the four-time World Champion, securing his 12th win in their last 13 encounters.

Trump now leads their head-to-head record 19-14, with this victory adding another chapter to their storied rivalry, which includes two World Championship finals. Higgins, who had initially enjoyed the upper hand in their earlier professional meetings, fell short despite putting up a valiant fight.

With this win, Trump moves closer to a first UK Championship title since his maiden victory in the event in 2011. He now faces Zhang Anda in the quarter-finals, needing just three more wins to lift the trophy.

However, Trump’s recent struggles in Triple Crown events loom large, as he has not secured a title in snooker’s most prestigious series since defeating Higgins at the 2019 World Championship. Despite topping the world rankings and winning numerous ranking events, his five-year Triple Crown drought continues to draw attention.

Higgins, a three-time UK Champion, suffered yet another early exit in the tournament. The Scot has not progressed beyond the last 16 since 2019 or the quarter-finals since his title-winning campaign in 2010.

Their match unfolded dramatically, with an attritional start that saw the scores tied 2-2 at the mid-session interval. Both players raised their levels after the break, with Trump firing in a century to take the lead, only for Higgins to counter with impressive runs of 58 and 106, briefly pulling ahead.

The back-and-forth continued as Trump’s breaks of 69 and 75 brought him to the brink of victory at 5-4. However, Higgins forced a deciding frame with a composed 66 clearance. In the tense final frame, Higgins initially led 34-0 but faltered when a potential stalemate developed.

Trump capitalized on an error, sinking a tricky red to the middle pocket and compiling a flawless 106 to seal the win. Reflecting on his performance, Trump praised the quality of the match, particularly his final-frame century, while acknowledging he still needs to improve his form to contend for the title.

Meanwhile, on the other table, Zhang Anda staged an extraordinary comeback to defeat Stuart Bingham 6-5 after trailing 5-1. Bingham, the 2015 World Champion, had looked in control early, even embarking on a 147 attempt that ended at 105.

However, Zhang mounted an incredible fightback, producing breaks of 81, 70, and 108 to reel off five consecutive frames. After the match, Zhang expressed pride in his resilience, noting the difficulty of facing a player like Bingham and emphasizing his calm, focused approach as the key to his remarkable turnaround.

Judd Trump Edges John Higgins in Decider to Reach UK Championship Quarter-Finals

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