Judd Trump storms to Champion of Champions Group One glory

Jamie Shaw in Champion of Champions 2 November 2022

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Trump and Allen go head-to-head

Judd Trump launched the defence of his Champion of Champions title in style by storming into the Semi-Finals in Bolton on Wednesday.

The world number three dropped just three frames in victories over Luca Brecel and Mark Allen as he set up a show-down with Mark Selby on Friday.

Trump bounced back from his shock First Round exit at the recent Northern Ireland Open by beating Brecel 4-2 with a top break of 87 coming in the opening frame.

He then produced a blistering display of break-building to dismantle 2020 champion Allen in the evening’s final, ending with a 94 per cent pot success rate.

“It was a good standard,” admitted Trump. “Even when the frames where Mark got in first I managed to sort of get in an clear up. It puts a lot of pressure on.

“When I got in, I was scoring heavy. It was nice to replicate what I have been doing in practice out there in such a special tournament.

“It was another amazing time to play Mark Selby next. Mark got through his group. It’s a mouth watering match.

“It’s something when you come into this tournament it’s all the top players who have won events. I think that’s what drives me and inspires me to play well.”

Trump began the group final with runs of 58 and 54 to seal the first frame, before following in with a 78 break to double his lead.

He then added a break of 64 to clinch frame three after Allen had missed a red to the middle on 46.

Allen got off the mark in style with a break of 103 prior to the interval, but only for Trump to hit back immediately with a break of 104 to make it 4-1.

The one-way traffic continued as the former World Champion added successive breaks of 79 to wrap up a commanding victory.

Allen, last week’s Northern Ireland Open champion, had earlier seen off Welsh Open winner Joe Perry 4-2 with high breaks of 118, 110 and 97.

He later posted on Twitter:

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say “too good tonight”” @juddtrump was phenomenal and will take some stopping. Felt it would take a performance like that to beat me. On to the Uk now for another crack at winning that title

— Mark Allen (@pistol147) November 2, 2022