World number one Judd Trump made an impressive comeback from four frames down to secure a 5-4 victory over Wu Yize, advancing to the last 16 of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters. Trump, who was on the verge of defeat with a 4-0 deficit at the interval, turned the match around by winning five consecutive frames, extending his unbeaten streak in best-of-11 matches to 29, dating back to December 2022. Reflecting on his performance, Trump joked about checking for flights home before rallying to win, describing it as one of his best victories in terms of determination and self-belief.
In contrast, world number two Mark Allen was eliminated from the tournament after a 5-1 loss to China's Xiao Guodong. Despite a brief resurgence with a century break in the third frame, Allen was unable to maintain momentum, as Xiao secured the next three frames to advance. The tournament also saw early exits for Ali Carter and Barry Hawkins. Carter, ranked 10th in the world, was defeated 5-3 by fellow Englishman Elliot Slessor, while Hawkins, ranked 16th, suffered a 5-1 loss to Scotland's Scott Donaldson.
The Saudi Arabia Masters has been touted as snooker's 'fourth major' by its organizers, with a record-breaking £2.3 million prize fund, making it the largest tournament ever held outside the UK. The winner of the event will receive a substantial £500,000, placing it second only to the World Championship in Sheffield in terms of prestige and prize money.
Trump's remarkable comeback and the unexpected exits of top players have already made headlines, adding to the growing significance of this inaugural event in the snooker calendar.
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