Judd Trump at ease following remarkably strong performance: ‘It was quite consistent’

On Friday, Judd Trump delivered a stellar performance in Hong Kong, dominating Hossein Vafaei with a 5-0 win at the World Grand Prix. Despite the impressive display, Trump remained humble about what he described as a “pretty steady” performance. The world number one opened the quarter-final with a remarkable 145 break, followed by scores of 108 and 115, and concluded with an exceptional 146 in the final frame. According to TNT Sports commentator Dave Hendon, this 146 break was only the 37th in professional snooker history, marking Trump’s first.

Even by Trump’s own high standards, his performance at the Kai Tak Arena was unforgettable, although he remained composed afterward. Reflecting on the match, Trump noted, “It was pretty steady from the get-go. Hossein made a small mistake in the first frame, and I capitalized on it. That initial confidence allowed me to settle quickly. He missed a couple of shots, but overall, I just played solidly and scored well.”

Vafaei could only watch as Trump delivered a series of big breaks. The crowd was firmly behind Trump, thanks to his Hong Kong residency, as his girlfriend is based there, making him a local favorite. “The support from the crowd is amazing,” Trump shared. “I’m proud to represent them in any way I can because I love coming here.”

Trump is now eyeing his third ranking title of the season. His next opponent in the semi-finals is Stuart Bingham, who triumphed over Mark Selby with a narrow 5-4 victory. Selby had a 4-2 lead, but Bingham fought back, overcoming a challenge similar to the yips, which has affected his game recently.

Reflecting on his win over Selby, Bingham admitted, “I’m battling against myself. This issue with my backswing has been creeping in this season, and I don’t have a pause. It’s tough, but somehow the balls went in when needed. It’s not easy, and although I should be thrilled to reach the semis, it’s been hard. I’ll focus on the positives, but it felt tough.”

In the other semi-final match-up, Shaun Murphy will face Neil Robertson after Robertson defeated Xiao Guodong 5-3, and Murphy bested John Higgins by the same margin. Murphy, the reigning Masters champion, acknowledged the challenge of playing against Higgins. “Facing John is always tough, especially after his recent tournament win,” Murphy said. “It’s an honor to play against him, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years.”

Murphy and Robertson, who first clashed professionally at the 1998 UK Championship, are well-acquainted with each other’s games. Their semi-final will be at 5 am UK time on Saturday, followed by Trump against Bingham at 11:30 am.