Judd Trump’s frustrating start to 2018 continued when he was knocked out at the first-round stage of the World Grand Prix, becoming the first high-profile casualty in Preston. World number three Trump won the first frame against Welshman Michael White but that would be the only positive of the match for the 2011 World Championship runner-up.
White, who only has two ranking tournament wins to his name, rattled off the next four frames to clinch a deserved 4-1 victory and move into the next round. The 29th seed, who is 50/1 to win the event outright, will now go up against Englishman Joe Perry, who defeated Scotland’s Graeme Dott 4-2 in a tight encounter. White is the outsider at 21/20 to move into the next stage of the tournament while his opponent, who last tasted success at the 2014-15 Players Tour Championship, is the slight favourite at 8/11.
For Trump, it is back to the practice table as he looks to rediscover his best form in time for the World Championship, which runs from April 21 to May 7. The 28-year-old, who also failed to qualify for the China Open after a shock loss to Jak Jones, is still priced at 6/1 to win the coveted title, just behind joint-favourites Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby.
Elsewhere in Preston, Masters winner Mark Allen also fell at the first hurdle after allowing a 3-0 lead to slip against Xiao Guodong. China’s rising star produced a stunning comeback to win 4-3 and book a second-round clash against Scotland’s John Higgins, who defeated Allister Carter by the same scoreline. Guodong is priced at 17/10 to progress while his opponent, a four-time world champion, is the 4/9 favourite.