TRUMP BEATS WILSON WITH LAST GASP CLEARANCE

Defending champion Judd Trump narrowly avoided a first round exit at the MrQ Masters, making a tremendous clearance in the deciding frame to beat Kyren Wilson 6-5.

Wilson came from 5-3 down to 5-5 then had a golden opportunity to knock out the number one seed, but ran out of position in the decider on a break of 51. Trump rose to the occasion by clearing the table with 65 to set up a quarter-final with Ali Carter.

Trump first won this event in 2019 and doubled his tally of Masters crowns last year, and he rode his luck, beating Ryan Day 6-5 and Barry Hawkins 6-5 in the first two rounds as his opponents failed to take match-winning chances. It was a similar story today as he was well below his best, but found an extra gear when it mattered most.

He has been the player of the season so far, winning three ranking titles in October, and is now looking to become only the seventh player to win the Masters on more than two occasions.

a car on a stage with a crowd watching

Kyren Wilson in a black shirt

Judd Trump playing pool

Judd Trump standing in front of a crowd of people

Kyren Wilson holding a microphone and standing next to a man playing pool

Kyren Wilson speaking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people

a group of men playing pool

a car on a stage with a crowd watching

Kyren Wilson in a black shirt

Judd Trump playing pool

Judd Trump standing in front of a crowd of people

Breaks of 65 and 76 gave Wilson the first two frames. Trump had a chance to take the third from 32-0 behind, but missed a difficult pot on the penultimate red on 58. Wilson punished him by converting a clever cross double to a centre pocket and clearing for 3-0. Runs of 52, 101 and 83 helped Trump battle back to 3-3.

Frames seven and eight both came down to the colours, and on both occasions Wilson botched a safety shot on the green, handing his opponent the chance to go 5-3 up. Wilson raised his hopes of a fight-back by coming from 35-4 down to win frame nine. In the tenth, Trump led 53-8 when he was unlucky to run out of position, and that proved costly as Wilson later converted a fantastic long red to a baulk corner to set up an excellent 58 clearance for 5-5.

Wilson had first chance in the decider and made 51 before playing a loose positional shot then missing a tricky red to centre, which he had played a shot-to-nothing, but in fact left a narrow gap which allowed Trump to pot the same red. The Bristol cueman went on to clear the table to reach the quarter-finals of this event for the eighth time.