February 2nd 2024.
John Higgins suffered a defeat in the quarter-finals of the German Masters as Judd Trump emerged victorious on Friday. Despite this loss, Trump still regards Higgins, also known as the Wizard of Wishaw, and Ronnie O'Sullivan as the top players in snooker.
Trump has been in top form this season and continued his winning streak against Higgins with an impressive 5-2 win, featuring breaks of 78, 74, 71, and 68. This victory marks Trump's seventh ranking semi-final appearance in just 10 events, showcasing his remarkable consistency.
On the other hand, Higgins has only reached three ranking semis this season and has yet to secure a ranking event title since 2021. Trump, who has already claimed three titles this season, acknowledges that he is currently performing better than Higgins in terms of form, confidence, and results. However, he still considers the four-time world champion as a benchmark for his own game.
Trump commented, "In the first five or ten years, he [Higgins] was always just managing to win. Now, I am able to do the same. I have the ability to pot crucial balls at crucial moments. Today, John missed an easy shot when the score was 3-3, and that made all the difference."
He added, "For me, Higgins is still a good benchmark. Although his level may have slightly declined, he is still a formidable opponent. Every time I face him, I know it will be a tough battle. Along with Ronnie, he sets the standard. If I can beat players like him, then I know I am playing well."
In a surprising turn of events, Trump will face Sam Craigie in the semi-finals. Craigie secured his spot in the final four for the first time in his career by defeating defending champion Ali Carter 5-1 in a superb display of snooker.
The 30-year-old, who reached the UK Championship quarter-finals last season, believes he has finally unlocked his potential this year. He shared, "I just stayed focused on my own game and blocked out all distractions. People have always said that I have incredible talent, but I never truly believed it. I used to change my cue action every tournament, but I have now found consistency. I am finally able to enjoy playing snooker."
In the other half of the draw, Kyren Wilson and Si Jiahui both secured comfortable wins to set up a semi-final clash. Wilson thrashed Fan Zhengyi 5-0, while Si beat Ryan Day 5-1 to reach his first semi-final since his impressive run at the Crucible last year.
The BetVictor series winner, Judd Trump, has already secured a massive bonus and is currently dominating the snooker scene. Meanwhile, Neil Robertson believes that despite some lackluster performances, Ronnie O'Sullivan remains unbeatable.
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