Trump Thrashes Maguire To Reach Final
Judd Trump scored an emphatic 6-0 win over Stephen Maguire in the semi-finals of the BAIC Motor China Open.
Trump will now face Ricky Walden in Beijing on Sunday over 19 frames for the £85,000 top prize.
Bristol’s 26-year-old Trump, the world number seven, is chasing his first ranking title since the 2014 Australian Goldfields Open. This will be his second ranking final of the season, having lost 10-9 to Kyren Wilson at the Shanghai Masters in September.
A break of 100 gave Trump the opening frame today and he added a scrappy second for 2-0.
Maguire, whose run to the semi-finals has ensured his top 16 ranking and an automatic place at the World Championship, had chances in the third but it was his opponent who took it by clearing from yellow to pink.
Trump’s run of 90 made it 4-0 and he cleared with 31 in frame five to move to the brink of victory.
And the Englishman’s 46 clearance in the next completed the rout. Tomorrow he’ll be aiming for the fifth ranking title of his career.
“I played well at the start of the match and built a big lead,” said Trump. “I felt in control for the whole match and I scored heavily. Tomorrow it will be important to play the way I have so far. If I can go out and relax, play quickly and without worrying then I’ve got a good chance.
“Ricky’s had a couple of good weeks so he’s full of confidence. When he’s playing well he’s hard to stop. I expect it to be tough and very close. He has won tournaments in China before.
“The crowd was very good today, a lot bigger than earlier in the week. I get a lot of support here and hopefully I can celebrate with them tomorrow.”
Maguire added: “I didn’t get involved, right from the word go. That can happen sometimes. I always enjoy China but I’m looking forward to going home now, seeing the family and preparing for the World Championship.
“I found it hard to get up for the match today because I had been under pressure all week, and a lot of that was released yesterday (when he secured his top 16 place). That’s the flattest I have ever felt for a semi-final and I didn’t like it. That takes nothing away from Judd because he played well.”