Trump Into Bucharest Final

Judd Trump reached the final of the European Masters in Romania with a 6-2 defeat of Mark Selby.

Trump will face Ronnie O’Sullivan or Neil Robertson on Sunday for the trophy and 75,000 Euro top prize. Victory would give him the sixth world ranking title of his career and second of the year having won the China Open in April.

Bristol’s 27-year-old Trump made a blistering start today as breaks of 135 and 72 gave him the first two frames. He made a 56 in the next but Selby hit back to win it by potting pink and black. World Champion Selby then led 30-0 in the next, but Trump’s run of 66 helped him go 3-1 ahead at the interval.

He extended his lead to 4-1 with breaks of 58 and 27, then Selby snatched the next by clearing from yellow to pink. But the world number one’s hopes of a fight back soon ended as Trump made 70 to go 5-2 ahead then got the better of a scrappy eighth frame, potting blue and pink to book his 11th ranking event final appearance.

“I scored well as I have done all week,” said Trump. “I’m not making any silly mistakes or missing anything easy. That puts your opponent on the back foot and puts pressure on them. Mark won a big frame to go 2-1 and there were a couple of times where I could have got a bit down on myself but I managed to stick in there.

“I never used to enjoy the tactical frames but now I enjoy the challenge and I feel I can compete against Mark, who has taken over from John Higgins as the best safety player.  If I can win an equal share of those frames, I think my break building is just as good if not better, so that will always give me a chance.

“This run has come from nowhere because I wasn’t in good form at all, but since I got my new cue my game clicked. Beating Ben Woollaston in my first match here gave me a lot of confidence. To win this tournament would be a great achievement as I’ve beaten Higgins and Selby and now I have to beat O’Sullivan or Robertson.”