Judd Trump relaxed after absurdly good performance: 'It was pretty steady'
03/07/2025 12:39 PM
Judd Trump turned in an outrageously good performance to beat Hossein Vafaei 5-0 at the World Grand Prix, but was not getting carried away by the ‘pretty steady’ display.
The world number one started the quarter-final contest with a break of 145 then added efforts of 108 and 115 before knocking in a 146 in the final frame.
A 146 is not seen very often at all, as per TNT Sports commentator Dave Hendon it was only the 37th in professional snooker history and the first Trump has made.
Even by Trump’s high standards of break-building, that display at the Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong was something to remember, not that he was overly emotional afterwards.
‘It was pretty steady from the get-go,’ he said. ‘Hossein made a little mistake in the first frame after I made a good break-off and that was it really.
‘I got the confidence from that frame and was able to settle down straight away. He probably missed one or two balls, that was it really.
‘I just played really solid and scored really well.’
Trump is getting plenty of support this week as he has residency in Hong Kong, where his girlfriend is based, and he is enjoying being something of a local favourite.
‘It’s nice to have the crowd getting behind me and cheering for me,’ he said. ‘I’m proud to have been given the opportunity to represent them in any way possible because I have always enjoyed coming here and have been an advocate for Hong Kong and I love it here. I’m proud to try and represent them.’
Next for Trump in the semi-finals is Stuart Bingham, who picked up a fantastic result by beating Mark Selby 5-4 in his last eight contest.
Selby was leading 4-2 and looking very good, but he wilted and Bingham battled to victory, despite dealing with something akin to the yips, which has crept into his game this season.
Despite reaching a first semi-final of the campaign, and doing so in a big event, Bingham is not enjoying playing as he tries to conquer the problem with his backswing.
‘Fighting against myself there,’ he said after beating Selby. ‘It’s been creeping in the game a bit this season and I just ain’t got no pause.
‘Luckily for me the balls went in, a great win, but I’m fighting against myself. It’s just hard. But for some reason I was potting them out there when it mattered.
‘It’s hard to take anything from that game. I should be elated to get into the semis. Tough game now with Judd. But I feel like I’m fighting, my safety was good. It comes and goes.
‘Someone just asked why the long face, you should be happy? But it’s just hard at the moment. I’ll take the positives, but at the end it felt horrible really. But I’m in the semis, unbelievable.’
On the other half of the draw there is a blockbuster semi-final between Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson after the Australian beat Xiao Guodong 5-3 and Murphy downed the in-form John Higgins by the same scoreline.
‘It’s always tough against John, especially just after he has won a massive tournament and got that renewed sense of purpose,’ said the Magician.
‘It was played in good spirits as it always is with John. It’s an honour to share the stage with him, I have always looked up to him and he has been teaching me since I was a teenager.’
Murphy and Robertson first met as professionals at the 1998 UK Championship, so it is fair to say they know each other’s games well.
The Magician meets the Thunder at 5am UK time on Saturday, followed by Trump against Bingham at 11.30am.
