Judd Trump put on a clinical display to beat old rival John Higgins 5-2 and make the semi-finals of the BetVictor German Masters in Berlin.
Victory sees Bristolian Trump defeat Higgins for the third time in a row, extending his head-to-head advantage over the Scot to 17-14.
Trump dished out two heartbreaking defeats to Higgins in their previous two meetings this season. He rallied from 3-0 down to win 6-5 at the BetVictor European Masters and came from 5-2 behind to beat Higgins 6-5 at the BetVictor English Open.
The pair have clashed on the sport’s grandest stages on a number of occasions. Higgins defeated Trump in the 2011 World Championship final and roles were reversed in the 2019 Crucible title match. However, today’s match was the pair’s first ever meeting at Berlin’s iconic Tempodrom.
Coming into the match, 2020 and 2022 German Masters winner Trump had the knowledge that he had already secured the bumper £150,000 payout for topping the BetVictor Series standings. He’s already lifted silverware at the English Open and the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.
It was Trump who got out of the traps first this afternoon, making 71 to take the opener. However, breaks of 83 and 53 from Higgins helped him to establish a 2-1 advantage. Trump hit back with 78 in the fourth and ensured they went in for the mid-session level at 2-2.
Higgins led 53-0 in the fifth, but a brilliant clearance of 68 helped Trump to steal and take the lead. The next saw Higgins miss a straightforward red to the top left and Trump ruthlessly punished to move 4-2 ahead and one from victory. He wasted little time getting over the line, securing a 5-2 win and a semi-final with either Ali Carter or Sam Craigie.
“For the first five or ten years, he was always just getting over the line. Now I am able to do the same. Just at the important times, to pot the crucial balls. Today John missed an easy ball to go 3-3 and that was the difference.”
Judd Trump
26-time Ranking Event Winner
Trump added: “For me, he is still a good benchmark. We are meeting now where his level has probably just dropped slightly and mine has risen. Every time I play him I can still see he is up for it. I know it is going to be a fight. Along with Ronnie he is the benchmark. If I can beat that type of player I know I’m doing well.
“The venue comes into its own when you get down to that semi-final. This isn’t the biggest prize money tournament, but the atmosphere is probably second to none. It is right up there with the Masters in London and one I always want to get back to.”
Chinese 21-year-old Si Jiahui thrashed Welshman Ryan Day 5-1 to make just the second ranking semi-final of his fledgling career.
Si stunned the world back in May, reaching his maiden semi-final at the Crucible. His dominated his last four clash with Luca Brecel at the World Championship, but eventually succumbed to a 17-15 defeat.
Today saw Si put on a clinical display, firing in runs of 52, 96, 72, 75 and 73 to blitz to the impressive victory. He now faces either Kyren Wilson or Fan Zhengyi in the last four.
