Trump cards first title with China win

JUDD TRUMP defeated fellow Englishman Mark Selby to win the China Open in Beijing yesterday.

The 21-year-old Bristol man registered a first ranking tournament success with a 10-8 victory at the Students University Stadium.

He knocked in a 104 break in the opening frame and held his nerve from there on to defeat world number four Selby.

The 21-year-old won the opening frame with a break of 104 before Selby levelled matters with an 88 in the second.

It was nip and tuck throughout. Both players had chances in a tense 17th frame but Selby was left needing two snookers with only 18 left on the table and he failed to get them, leaving Trump just a frame away from the title.

The 27-year-old ‘Jester from Leicester’ looked like forcing a deciding frame until he missed a brown off the spot with a 41-point advantage. That proved to be his last shot of the tournament as Trump held his nerve, sinking a match-winning pink to end Selby’s hopes of a first major title since the Welsh Open three years ago.

“My career starts now,” said a delighted Trump afterwards.

“The last four or five years have been a steep learning curve and just prepared me for this moment.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling and it’s come out of nowhere as I’ve never shown any form this season.

“Every time I got to a venue I was preparing myself to come home early, that’s the lack of confidence I had.

“Against Marco Fu (in the first round) I doubted myself so much just wondering if I was any good and if I would win.

“But as I got through every match I felt better and better so hopefully I can go on to win a lot more tournaments.”