Trump starts Masters defence with gritty win over Wilson

Last Updated: 09/01/24 9:45pm

Judd Trump toughed out a deciding frame to beat Kyren Wilson in the first round of the Masters
Judd Trump toughed out a deciding frame to beat Kyren Wilson in the first round of the Masters

Judd Trump came from 3-0 down to salvage the defence of his Masters title courtesy of a nerveless final-frame clearance against Kyren Wilson.

The 2023 champion found the cue-ball control which had been lacking for much of the first-round contest to roll in a 65 break and edge through a 6-5 winner.

Trump had earlier recovered from losing the opening three frames to reel off five in succession, registering breaks of 101 and 83 in the process.

But Wilson fought back to level at 5-5 thanks in part to a superb break of 58 in frame 10, forcing Trump to tough out a decider – just as he had to do in the first two rounds on his way to last year’s title at Alexandra Palace.

And he took advantage of Wilson’s missed red into the middle pocket to rally from 55-0 behind and set up a Friday quarter-final against Ali Carter.

Trump said afterwards: “It was a bit of a scrappy game and it was nip and tuck the whole way through.

“I felt like I threw it away at 5-4. Kyren made an amazing break to go 5-5 and it looked like he would get over the line but he just left that little gap and I took it quite well.”

Source : Sky Sports