November 28th 2024.
Judd Trump is making strides towards his second UK Championship title, after narrowly defeating John Higgins 6-5 in the second round of the tournament. The first four frames of the match were rather uneventful, with both players playing cautiously. However, after a break between frames, the game picked up pace as both men began attacking more aggressively, making for a much more exciting watch.
Trump started off strong with an impressive break of 111, but Higgins responded with breaks of 58 and 106, taking the lead. Trump then fought back with breaks of 69 and 75, before Higgins made a comeback with a break of 66, forcing a deciding frame. However, in the final frame, Higgins made a costly mistake with a poor safety shot, giving Trump the opportunity to capitalize and secure the win with a break of 106.
Speaking to BBC after the match, Trump reflected on the intense decider, stating, "It was a bit topsy-turvy, but I managed to pull off a good break. The first four frames showed a lot of respect towards each other, but after the break, I wanted to make it more attacking and free-flowing. I started taking more risks and it paid off. Sometimes in big tournaments, you can try too hard in the beginning, but once I settled into the game, I was able to relax and play my best."
Higgins will surely regret his mistake in the deciding frame, but Trump's impressive record against him in recent years cannot be ignored. Since their epic showdown in the 2019 World Championship final, this was their 13th meeting, with Trump winning 12 of them. Reflecting on their rivalry, Trump quipped, "I'm obviously delighted to come out on the winning side again. In recent times, I've been able to get the upper hand on John. It's a stark contrast from the beginning of my career, but it makes for a great matchup."
When asked about his current form, Trump admitted that he still has a long way to go. "There are a lot of players playing really well right now, but I'm not one of them. However, I'm still in the event, so there's still time for me to improve," he said. In the quarter-finals, Trump will face Zhang Anda, who produced a stunning comeback to defeat Stuart Bingham 6-5, with a maximum break in his opening game.
The 2015 world champion started the match strong with a 5-1 lead, making impressive breaks of 101, 60, and 105. However, Zhang turned the match around with a remarkable run of five consecutive frames, including breaks of 81, 70, and 108, to secure his spot in the quarter-finals against the world number one on Friday. It's set to be an exciting match between two talented players, and Trump is ready for the challenge. "I'm sure he's sick of me, and I was sick of him, but it always makes for a great matchup," he said. As for his chances, Trump remains humble, saying, "There's still a long way to go, but I'll keep pushing and hopefully improve as the tournament goes on."
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