Judd Trump turned in his worst performance in a long time in a 9-6 defeat to Stephen Maguire at the Tour Championship, lacking focus and choosing the wrong shots, believes Stephen Hendry.
The world champion and world number one crashed out of the Tour Championship in Wednesday’s semi-final in a scrappy clash with the Scot as both players failed to hit peak form,
There was just one century in the match, a 132 from Maguire, with Trump making three half-centuries as he struggled to find any kind of rhythm.
Seven-time world champion Hendry was surprised to see Judd playing so far below the standard we have come to expect from him, given Trump has won six ranking events this season.
‘That’s the worst I think I’ve seen Judd play for a long, long time,’ Hendry told ITV.
‘Whether he just couldn’t get going, the lack of atmosphere, if he didn’t like the conditions, I don’t know.
‘It was a very unlike Judd performance. Strange shot choices, he just didn’t look focused or with it at all, for me, which is strange because he’s always found a way to win matches, this season, even when he’s not been playing well, he’s found a way.
‘But he was poor today.’
Maguire admits that it was far from a classic but he is delighted to have another chance to win his first ranking title since the 2013 Welsh Open.
‘It wasn’t pretty out there to watch and it wasn’t that pretty to play, but it’s a fight out there sometimes. It wasn’t the best game, but you still have to win,’ said the 39-year-old.
‘It’s always nice to be in a final, leading up to the Worlds and after this break, so I’m just delighted.
‘It would mean everything to get back into the winners’ enclosure against the top boys, especially this tournament, it’s a proper event. Leading up to the Worlds it would be mega confidence.’
Maguire plays either Mark Selby or Mark Allen in the final, with the second semi-final played on Thursday.
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