Judd Trump has been enjoying the best season of his career but there seems no doubt his Tour Championship loss to Ronnie O’Sullivan will ask a big question of his mental resolve.
‘The Ace in the Pack’ seemed destined to continue his authority over O’Sullivan in Llandudno as he built up a 6-2 advantage following their opening session on Thursday.
‘The Rocket’ however had other ideas and launched an evening fightback, closing to within two frames when they restarted.
There were then three consecutive frames which lasted over 30 minutes, a tactical battle not usually associated with either player, and it was Trump who came out the other side leading 8-5.
O’Sullivan wasn’t about to settle for second best and he notched a pair of rapid-fire century breaks en route to levelling the match at 8-8. Effectively a best-of-three, Trump again stole the advantage to lead at 9-8 and the Bristol potter was in first in frame 18 but couldn’t get over the winning line, ensuring a decider was called for.
Once more, Trump was first in the scoring zone but he faltered in the reds when attempting a subtle cannon.
O’Sullivan’s counter-attack was halted in stunning fashion when he fouled the yellow with his waistcoat, only for Trump to miss a long red when he returned to the table.
The balance appeared to tilt firmly towards the five-time world champion when he sensationally fluked a pink in a frame of epic proportions, but he missed the final red down the cushion with the rest and left frame and match at Trump’s mercy.
Needing only the yellow to leave O’Sullivan requiring a snooker, Trump inexplicably went for a power-pot and position on the green, missing the pot and allowing his opponent a reprieve.
O’Sullivan grabbed it, laying a snooker and then producing a steely clearance on the colours as he won on the final black. For Trump, it surely raises a massive question so close to the World Championship in Sheffield next month.
He had defeated O’Sullivan in the Northern Ireland Open and Dafabet Masters finals this season already, but this collapse denied him the hat-trick. A chance to seize the psychological high-ground over O’Sullivan was spurned and, with it, some mental scars were etched into Trump’s own mind.
His best season this may well be, but Trump will go to the Crucible for the World Championship with a nightmare defeat lingering in his psyche.
Trump is 4.33 to win his first world title in Sheffield this season, while O’Sullivan continues to edge favouritism at 4.00.