Judd Trump claimed his first ranking title with a 10-8 victory over Mark Selby in the final of the China Open.The 21-year-old Bristolian knocked in two 104 breaks to stun the world number four and open up a 3-1 advantage.He had a chance for a four-frame lead but missed frame ball and Selby’s 62 reduced the gap to 5-3 at the interval.Selby levelled at 8-8 but was never ahead despite three century breaks – and Trump took the final two frames to triumph.It was another impressive showing from Trump, who survived one qualifying round to make the main event before easing into the final having conceded only seven frames.”My career starts now,” said Judd. “The last four or five years have been a steep learning curve and just prepared me for this moment.”After building up a 65-4 lead in frame eight, Trump missed a simple red into the corner pocket, which allowed a relieved Selby to pounce and nick it with a brilliant clearance.Trump took the opening frame of the final session to take his advantage to three but Selby, twice a masters champion, compiled a 132 then a 66 to take the next two frames.
A 113 break in only nine minutes from Trump made it 7-5 but in an enthralling contest, Selby hit back with the highest break of the match, a 134, as the high quality continued.The 27-year-old Selby, known as the ‘Jester from Leicester’, reached the final of the German Masters but was looking for his first major title since winning the Welsh Open three years ago.A clearance of 124 reduced the gap once again but with the match level, Trump produced a 57 that proved enough to make it 9-8.On the brink of defeat, Selby looked as though he would take the fluctuating final to a deciding frame – but missed a brown off its spot when 41 ahead and that proved to be his last shot of the tournament, with Trump clearing to a decisive pink.”It’s an unbelievable feeling and it’s come out of nowhere as I’ve never shown any form this season,” said Trump.”Every time I got to a venue I was preparing myself to come home early, that’s the lack of confidence I had.”Mark put me under a lot of pressure in the second session and I was lucky to keep the one-frame lead,” added Trump. “Then in the last frame I made one of my best clearances ever under pressure.”It was looking like being 9-9 and in the second session he came out so well. I felt good in the last frame until I got to the colours. They were all on their spots then I knew I had a chance to win.”I’ve never experienced pressure like that so to make the clearance to win my first title in my first final is pretty good. – BBC
