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World Championship 2019: Judd Trump leads John Higgins 12-5 after first day of Crucible final


Judd Trump showboats his way to a 135 break
Betfred World Snooker Championship final
Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 5-6 May Times: 14:00 & 19:00 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, iPlayer, Connected TV, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.

Judd Trump produced a dazzling display to open a 12-5 lead over John Higgins and take total control of the World Championship final at the Crucible.

The players were tied at 4-4 after an incredible first session featuring four centuries and three further breaks of 50 or more.

Higgins started the second session with a ton, but Trump won eight frames in a row, helped by two more century breaks.

The best-of-35 match resumes on Monday at 14:00 BST, live on BBC TV.

Masters champion Trump, who lost to Higgins in the 2011 final, is looking to win the world title for the first time and complete the Triple Crown of winning all of snooker’s top three events, having won the UK Championship in 2011.

Higgins, runner-up in the last two finals, is aiming to match Ronnie O’Sullivan by claiming a fifth title but will need to produce a stunning comeback to halt Trump.

The final session will begin at 19:00 BST, with the winner collecting the trophy and a record £500,000 in prize money.

Trump and Higgins go century loopy

A remarkable opening day saw the two players put on an exhibition of cueball control and break building.

Here is how the numbers stack up:

  • Most centuries in a world final: Trump and Higgins are currently on seven, one adrift of the record of eight from 2002 (Stephen Hendry v Peter Ebdon) and 2013 (Ronnie O’Sullivan v Barry Hawkins).
  • Most centuries by a player in a tournament: Higgins is currently on 11. He is five short of Hendry’s record of 16 made in 2002.
  • Most centuries overall: 96 and counting this year, smashing the previous best of 86 from 2015 and 2016.
  • Highest break so far: John Higgins 143 v David Gilbert in the semi-finals.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis said on BBC Two: “It really is astonishing. You very rarely get two players playing so well at the same time. When it happens it is worth savouring.”

‘One of the best opening sessions ever’

This year’s opening session was described by 1997 champion Ken Doherty as “one of the best ever” – Trump showing his form as a pre-tournament favourite with breaks of 51, 63 and 105.

Higgins won three in a row including runs of 139, 69 and 101, but Trump responded in style with a 103 break for 4-4.

After his dramatic semi-final win over David Gilbert in a final-frame decider, Higgins criticised the scheduling of the final which takes place over two days with sessions starting at 14:00 and 19:00.

Though he stroked in a 125 break at the start of the second session, Trump took a stranglehold with a 114 break, as well as taking a 35-minute tactical frame.

Trump made further runs of 114, 71, 58 and 70 to open a substantial advantage heading into the 17th and last day of the tournament.

On Trump’s performance, Davis added: “It is frightening what Judd Trump can do with the ball. This has been a masterclass. He looks like a world champion in the making.”

Trump produces ‘shot of the championship’

Trump’s best pot came in the 10th frame when he powered in a red down the cushion and with a swish of the cue, managed to screw the cueball back into the baulk area.

Hendry called it “the shot of the championship” adding: “He threw everything at it. He is probably the only player in the game that can produce that sort of shot”.

Doherty said: “It was like Alex Higgins the way Judd Trump hit that pot. His whole body goes into the shot and his head goes into the air. It goes against the whole ethos of the coaching manual.

“I could be there for a month of Sundays and never produce a shot like that. He’s a great entertainer and a prodigious talent.”



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