Englishman Judd Trump has booked his place in the final of the Shanghai Masters after seeing off compatriot Jack Lisowski in the last four on Friday. ‘The Juddernaut’ is going in search of his second ranking event title of the seasonfollowing his success at last month’s European Masters and he secured an impressive 6-3 victory over Lisowski, who was making his first semi-final appearance in a professional event.
It looked at one stage like Trump might be taken the distance by his less experienced opponent, as the two men were level at 3-3, but the world number three won three frames in a row to clinch victory. Trump will face either Ronnie O’Sullivan or John Higgins in the showpiece match at Shanghai Grand Stage and he will be hoping to make it third time lucky in the final, as he has twice before lost at the final hurdle, including when he was beaten by Higgins in 2012.
The 28-year-old certainly should be full of confidence whoever he takes on in the final, as the three frames he dropped against Lisowski were the first he has conceded at this year’s tournament, as he rattled off 5-0 victories over Luca Brecel, Stephen Maguire, Ben Woollaston and Alfie Burden in the previous rounds. Trump will be hoping to maintain that form during the final, as he goes in search of his ninth ranking title, while he will also be hoping to lay down a marker over his rivals, with big tournaments like the World Championship still to come later in the season. The Bristol native has never been crowned world champion, although he did reach the final in 2011 and he is priced at 6/1 to claim overall glory at the Crucible this season.
Shanghai Masters odds available at Dafabet.