Trump Survives Jones Scare
Judd Trump narrowly avoided a shock defeat on day one of the ManBetX Welsh Open in Cardiff, scraping a 4-3 win over Duane Jones.
World number 113 Jones was just six pots away from clearing up in the deciding frame, but missed the yellow with the rest, allowing Trump to edge into the last 64 and a match with Noppon Saengkham or Ross Muir. Bristol’s Trump, ranked third, lost 9-8 to Stuart Bingham in the final here last year and hopes for another deep run at one of his favourite venues.
Trump led 3-1 with a top break of 87 then Welshman Jones took frame five with a run of 93 and won the next on the colours for 3-3. In the decider, Trump built a 61-0 lead, then Jones had an opportunity to snatch victory but after narrowing the gap to 25 points, his missed yellow to a baulk corner proved costly. Trump potted yellow and green which was enough to put him into round two.
“It was a battle – Duane played well in his home tournament,” said eight-time ranking event winner Trump. “He is a solid player and he has improved. I missed too many balls during the match and got unlucky a few times.
“My results this season have been mixed, I have been inconsistent. Mentally maybe I am not as strong as some of the other players because I get spells where I don’t want to play and I struggle to get up for some events. But I like this one because I feel close to home, I get a lot of support and I have always wanted to win it. I was gutted to lose in the final last year.”
Jackson Page made headlines last year when he reached the third round when competing as a 15-year-old schoolboy, and he enjoyed another winning start by beating Sean O’Sullivan 4-3. Welshman Page, now 16, is still an amateur but was handed a place in the tournament after Joe Swail pulled out last week. And he took advantage by coming from 3-2 down to win the last two frames on the colours.
Page now faces defending champion Stuart Bingham, who recovered from losing the first frame to beat Chen Zhe 4-1 with top breaks of 118, 83 and 64.
Graeme Dott continued his fine recent form with a 4-0 win over Sanderson Lam, top scoring with 83 and 77. Dott will now play Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was handed a bye because his opponent Robin Hull withdrew for medical reasons.
Kurt Dunham
Australia’s Kurt Dunham scored the best win of his career so far, beating Welshman Ryan Day 4-2 with top runs of 84, 57 and 103. China’s Yan Bingtao came from 3-1 down to beat veteran Jimmy White 4-3, firing 69, 58 and 110 in the last three frames.
Ding Junhui eased to a 4-0 win over Hammad Miah with a top break of 89 while Neil Robertson made an 88 in a 4-1 defeat of Mark Davis.
Masters champion Mark Allen recovered a 2-1 deficit to beat Cao Yupeng 4-2 thanks to runs of 119, 72 and 56.
In the last match of the evening to finish, World Champion Mark Selby looked in fine form as he beat Christopher Keogan 4-2 with top breaks of 143 and 100.