TRUMP’S STUMPED
Champ just can’t fathom shock Murphy KO
DEFENDING champ Judd Trump was left scratching his head as he suffered a shock first-round exit at the Masters yesterday.
The world champion and world No.1 hit three century breaks but still slipped to a 6-3 upset to Shaun Murphy at the Alexandra Palace.
Trump said: “I can’t really work out how it was 6-3. I didn’t feel like I played that badly. I felt like I was the better player for most of the game and Shaun was just making the important clearances really.
“I didn’t feel like I got outplayed out there but I’m really disappointed to lose and not be a part of this great tournament.
“I didn’t miss many balls but I played some bad safety shots and some bad cannons – and Shaun was getting away with more than I was.”
The top seeds have fallen like cards in the first round at the London venue.
Trump has been the sport’s top potter for the last 12 months, but followed former Masters champions Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen on to the first-round scrapheap.
The 30-year-old left-hander believes this year’s illustrious invitational tournament has now been blown wide open for the underdogs.
“It wouldn’t surprise me whoever won it now,” said Trump. “The lower-ranked players like Joe Perry and Dave Gilbert, there’s no reason they can’t win it.
“There are a lot of top players left and anything can happen.”
Trump rattled in centuries of 128, 116 and 119 to deservedly lead 3-2. But ‘Magician’ Murphy conjured up a fine four-frame spell with runs of 71, 77 and 52 to reach an impressive 10th Masters quarter-final.
Murphy said: “I only took one day off over Christmas. Every other day I was practising seven or eight hours to get ready.
“The sacrifices I made with family time have been vindicated by that performance.”
John Higgins kept his Masters bid on track by beating Barry Hawkins 6-1.
The Wishaw Wizard, who last won the title in 2006, set up a mouth-watering quarterfinal clash with Ali Carter tomorrow.
Higgins said: “Sometimes I have got overawed with the whole environment at the Masters. It has done me many times and it happened a bit to Barry this time.
“It was a great win and I’m just delighted.”