Trump card
Judd Trump dramatically wins most lucrative frame in snooker history to take home jackpot in Saudi Arabia Masters
There was one key takeaway from the tournament as a whole visible from TV
JUDD TRUMP produced one of the great under-pressure clearances to bank £500,000 as he eclipsed Steve Davis in the snooker stakes.
The Juddernaut, 35, was on the verge of a last-frame defeat to Mark Williams in the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Riyadh.
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At 62-0 down in frame 19 after the Welshman missed a difficult red to the bottom pocket, Trump responded with a magnificent and nerveless 72, which he celebrated by punching the air.
Given the financial difference between first and second at this so-called ‘fourth major’ it was a break worth £300,000 – the most lucrative single frame in the sport’s history.
It represents his 29th career ranking title, which moves him clear of Davis, who won 28 between 1981 and 1995.
Only John Higgins (31), Stephen Hendry (36) and Ronnie O’Sullivan (41) have collected more ranking crowns than the Bristol potter.
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Trump, who has won 15 of his first 16 matches this term, said: “To be honest I’m not someone who gets emotional after I win but there was so much elation there.
“I had my back-to-the-wall the whole game. That feeling when the black went in was disbelief.
“There was so much adrenaline pumping in my body. It’s probably the happiest I’ve ever been to win a tournament.
“It was an incredible feeling and one that I won’t forget for a while.
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“With it being the last frame and having not played my best snooker all day, I would probably put that top of the best clearances in my career.
“To produce that under the utmost pressure is such a nice feeling. It’s a big event which I looked like I was going to lose. I managed to turn it around in the end.
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“I’m incredibly proud to be the first winner here. My record in new events is very good and I had that in the back of my mind.
“I always have that bit of self-belief in there when I really need it. I managed to rely on that and make that incredible clearance.”
Three-time world champion Williams, who scored four centuries in the final compared to Trump’s none, will at least walk away with £200,000.
He said: "I nearly had a good break in the last frame.
“It was a red I fancied getting but it wasn’t as if I twitched, I hit it well and thought it was in.
“It just shows what a great champion he is, what a break he has made there.
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O'Sullivan has three children - two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket's on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O'Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded 'snooker's greatest feud'.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous 'Snotgate' row.
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“For half a million pounds, 62 behind and two reds safe. What can I say? Congratulations to him.”
The World Snooker Tour will leave the Kingdom crowing about how wonderful the event was involving 144 players.
But apart from matches involving top name O’Sullivan and the final, it was evident watching on TV how few fans had bothered to turn up.
This is the start of a 10-year agreement with Middle East backers, so it has a permanent spot on the calendar.
However, too much of the TV and social media coverage was spent pandering to the organisers, who have bottomless pockets, saying how wonderful it was to be there.
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Calling it the ‘fourth major’ – behind the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters in terms of prestige – was always premature, especially where there are other, long-standing events in China that could have that tag.
But in the face of much criticism and flak, they will point to the thrilling final on Saturday as evidence of how much it meant to the players involved.
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