Magnificent Kurt Maflin defeats Judd Trump at the European Masters
Trump was defeated by Maflin in Milton Keynes
Judd Trump crashed out of the European Masters following a 5-3 defeat by an inspired Kurt Maflin on Wednesday.
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins were also among the high-profile casualties on day three at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
Trump is a two-time winner of this tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2016 and 2017.
However, his hopes of completing a hat-trick were ended during a high-quality encounter with Maflin.
The world number 33 drew first blood with a brilliant break of 97, but Trump responded with 79 and 100 to turn things around.
Nevertheless, Maflin went into overdrive as runs of 79, 72 and 92 put him on the brink of victory.
The Ace overturned a 4-2 deficit against Jak Jones on Tuesday and threatened to do the same 24 hours later when he stayed alive with a timely 127.
But the former Crucible quarter-finalist held his nerve to set up a last-16 showdown with Anthony McGill, who hit a top break of 134 in a commanding 5-1 victory over Mitchell Mann.
Meanwhile, world number five Wilson was ousted in a deciding frame by Fan Zhengyi, who went close to a maximum break earlier in the contest.
Indeed, the German Masters quarter-finalist missed the final brown in frame five; the 125 break one of a combined eight contributions over 50, while a run of 66 saw him over the line.
Fan will play compatriot Yan Bingtao, who saw off Joe Perry 5-2.
Elsewhere, Higgins was helpless against an inspired Tom Ford, who hit breaks of 127, 87, 83 and 68 during a comprehensive 5-0 whitewash of the four-time World champion.
A top contribution of 112 was the highlight as Ronnie O’Sullivan endured no such difficulty against Chinese teenager Wu Yize; the Rocket’s 5-1 win setting up a clash with Ashley Hugill, who defeated Ali Carter by the same scoreline.
Earlier in the day, former World champion Graeme Dott recovered from 4-2 down to defeat Zhou Yuelong, while Scottish Open winner Luca Brecel was ousted in a deciding frame by Sunny Akani.
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European Masters 2022 Schedule of Play
Wednesday February 23
Round Two
Jordan Brown 5-0 Xiao Guodong
Zhou Yuelong 4-5 Graeme Dott
Luca Brecel 4-5 Sunny Akani
Ryan Day 5-4 Ashley Carty
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-1 Wu Yize
Ali Carter 1-5 Ashley Hugill
Martin Gould 4-5 Fraser Patrick
John Higgins 0-5 Tom Ford
Kyren Wilson 4-5 Fan Zhengyi
Yan Bingtao 5-2 Joe Perry
Anthony McGill 5-1 Mitchell Mann
Judd Trump 3-5 Kurt Maflin