Trump holds his nerve
Judd Trump held off a fightback from Mark Williams to book his place in the final of the Bank of Communication Shanghai Masters.
Last Updated: 22/09/12 5:02pm
Judd Trump held off a gutsy fightback from Mark Williams to book his place in the final of the Bank of Communication Shanghai Masters.
The world number two led the double world champion 5-1 at one point but a Williams resurgence meant Trump eventually took a narrow 6-4 victory to set up a final showdown with John Higgins.
The momentum turned when Trump missed a red - Williams punished him and soon threatened to force a deciding frame.
But UK champion Trump kept his composure and when a chance came his way in the 10th frame the 23-year-old strung together a tidy 58 to finally finish off his opponent.
"I felt I played a lot better and I dominated the match to go 5-1 up. Then Mark turned things around and every time I thought I had him in trouble, he got out of it," Trump told World Snooker's official website.
Tense
"It was getting tense at 5-4 so I was really pleased to get over the line. I'm here to win it and I fancy my chances in the final."
Trump and fellow left-hander Williams produced some impressive scoring, with Trump firing breaks of 62 and 82 to lead 2-0, and 3-0 was on the cards until the Bristol cueman broke down on a run of 53.
Williams fired in a 79 to take the frame, but Trump responded with 76, 62 and 82 to move one frame away from victory.
Trump then made a half-century break in frame seven but could not turn it into a match-deciding clearance, an missed opportunity that seemed as though it might prove costly as Williams rifled in 66 and then battled through the next two frames to cut his arrears to one.
But the 2011 World Championship finalist then halted the comeback to leave Williams disappointed and set up the clash with Higgins.
The Scot continued his excellent run in the tournament with an impressive 6-3 win over England's Shaun Murphy.
Trump, who as a qualifier lost to Higgins in the 2011 World Championship final, rates his chances of reversing that result.
"John's a great player and one of the best to ever play so it'll be tough, but I'm here to win it and I fancy my chances in the final," Trump said.
