After having recorded a string of emphatic victories throughout the 2019 World Open, Judd Trump is now emerging as the strongest favorite to clinch the 150,000 pounds prize.
It was Day 4 of the Zhiyuan World Open and it was an absolute cracker! The day was packed with surprises and the scoreboard dotted with mesmerising results as well.
World Champion, Judd Trump took to the table to lock horns with Joe Perry in what was a thrilling encounter. Quick fingers, pumping heartbeats and sweaty faces characterized a game which went down to the wire. In the end, it was the world number one who edged out his opponent by a 5-4 scoreline.
Juddenaut who is looking to win his sixth title within the past year has secured a one-way pass ticket to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
However, Trump could have gotten a plane ticket home instead, had Perry not failed to take advantage of the match-winning chances that swept his feet. He is now set to take on Michael Holt on Friday.
Having racing to a 3-0 lead, with top breaks of 135 and 75, Trump must have thought there was only little that could have been done to stop him. However, Perry stretched every relaxed sinew in him, ready to give Trump a run for his money. The world number 15 then took four frames in a row with top breaks of 123, 70 and 129.
Perry could have closed the game in the eighth frame, however, he missed a red to a centre pocket at 41-37. Consequently, Trump, unwilling to leave anything to chance took advantage for 4-4.
Juddernaut at the end of the game said: “I was in control at 3-0, then at 3-1 Joe had a big fluke and that turned it around,” said the world number one.
“A few things weren’t going my way and I was getting frustrated. In the end I just fell over the line. He had chances so he’ll be massively disappointed. There was a lot of tension in the last frame, it means a lot to everyone.”
The World Champion admitted that there was a huge load of pressure on him. He said no one would want to be thinking about a tough loss on their way home. He said his opponent shouldn’t have missed those balls but the pressure was too much to be suppressed.
Written by: Collins Nwokolo.