Judd Trump admitted he’d come under some late pressure after seeing off Liang Wenbo 6-4 in their first round clash at the Dafabet Masters in London. The world number three sailed into a 5-1 lead at Alexandra Palace, aided by five half-century breaks, as Liang struggled. With defeat staring him in the face, Liang rallied strongly and runs of 58, 139 – the early front runner for the £10,000 high break prize in the Masters – and 116 saw him close to 5-4 behind.
That left Trump under pressure and facing a potential deciding frame that few could have predicted. Liang had first bite at frame ten but he missed a risky pot on the green to a baulk corner and allowed Trump in for a match-winning break of 85. The Bristol potter now moves on to face either Shaun Murphy or Ali Carter on Friday afternoon in the quarter-finals and Trump admitted there was relief when he eventually closed out his victory. “I thought Liang was negative early in the match, he was over-thinking everything,” said Trump. “After that he relaxed more and started playing well, he put me under a bit of pressure so I was pleased to take my chance to win 6-4. Every win in this event is a good result.”
Trump has already pocketed the European Masters title in October and he’ll be pleased to have negotiated the first hurdle at Alexandra Palace, having lost in the opening round three times in the previous four years. His best efforts at the Masters have been semi-final appearances in 2012 and 2016. With world number one Mark Selby already out, Trump is 4.75 second favourite to win the Dafabet Masters on Sunday evening.
Dafabet Masters odds available at Dafabet (Enhanced odds available for this match!)