Trump fights back to land NI Open and savour winning feeling again
JUDD Trump ended his yearlong trophy drought in style with a 9-7 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Northern Ireland Open.
He denied O’Sullivan, who claimed the Champion of Champions title last week, the chance of back-to-back wins in a thrilling encounter in Belfast.
There was never more than one frame between them as they reached the interval all-square at 4-4.
A break of 134 saw O’Sullivan take a 7-6 lead after the resumption but world number five Trump then won three frames in succession to claim the Alex Higgins Trophy and £70,000 first prize with his first victory in 13 months.
“It feels amazing — it’s so nice to win again,” said Trump.
“I was very nervous in that last frame as it’s a while since I’ve done anything and I’ve had a bit of stick for underachieving.
“I got chances in the last few frames and just tried to hold myself together, I’ve always believed in myself but luck has not been with me.
“I wasn’t looking forward to this tournament after going out in the first round last year but the support I’ve felt this week has been unbelievable.”
O’Sullivan said: “Judd deserved to win
— he was the better player on the day and the most consistent player this week.” Former UK Championship winner Trump has now won nine ranking titles.
O’Sullivan (below) had won last week’s Champion of Champions in Coventry and also another invitation event, the Shanghai Masters, this season, but was unable to get the better of his worldranked five opponent.
The world number three had failed to get beyond the last-16 stage in the first two years of this tournament but dropped just four frames in his first five matches, before edging a thrilling 6-5 semi-final win over Mark Selby on Saturday.
The only other tournament the 42-year-old had played this season was the English Open, the first of the Home Nations series, in which he lost in the semi-finals to Mark Davis.
Trump, whose last ranking event win came in the European Masters more than one year ago, beat Eden Sharav 6-3 to make the final.
Mark King won the inaugural Northern Ireland Open in 2016, with Mark Williams emerging the victor 12 months ago.
The UK Championship in York is the next event which starts on November 27 where O’Sullivan will be looking to defend his title.