Judd is Trump-ed
WORLD NO 3 GOES ALL TO POT AS HE IS WHITEWASHED BY SUPER CRAIGIE
TALENTED potter Sam Craigie picked up the best win of his professional career with a 5-0 demolition of world No 3 Judd Trump.
The 23-year from Wallsend was in top form at Preston Guildhall as he ruthlessly secured his qualification for the World Open ranking event in China next month.
Craigie said: “I played well and took every chance I had.
“Judd was not at his best but I still had to pot the balls.
“I felt like I handled the pressure of playing one of the best players in the world pretty well.
“On paper, it is probably the best win in my career because it (being whitewashed) does not really happen to Judd.”
This is the second season in succession cueman Criagie has qualified for the World Open after he beat Marco Fu to make it to the main venue last season.
He added: “I received lots of nice messages after the win, which I was really happy about because Judd is one of the home favourites in China.
“I am really looking forward to going back to play in front of the Chinese fans and seeing if I can go further in the tournament.”
Craigie is currently ranked No 76 in the world and has set his sights on breaking into the top 64 by the end of the season to guarantee his professional status for another two years.
He said: “I always try to be as ambitious as possible and would love to really make my mark this season and do some damage.
“However, I know my first objective has to be retaining my place on the tour. I felt like I did OK last season and have put myself into a healthy position in the rankings.
“I feel like I am stronger now, though, and can really kick on.”
In the same qualifying competiton, Wallsend’s Gary Wilson and Gateshead’s Elliot Slessor claimed victories against Nigel Bond (5-1) and Mark Davis (5-4).
Wilson registered runs of 67 and 58 in his win, , Slessor breaks of 67, 55, 64cl and 77.
Gateshead’s John Astley enjoyed a 5-1 success against Chris Totten which included a 63 break in the third frame.
Astley, meanwhile, pulled off a shock 4-2 victory over former world champion Shaun Murphy in the European Masters Qualifiers, also in Preston.
Astley came from 1-0 and 2-1 down to beat the 2006 Sheffield Crucible title holder Murphy with runs of 52 and 50.
In a close-ought contest, Gary Wilson lost 4-3 to Iran’s newly-crowned world under-21 champion Hussein Vafael.
Elliot Slessor became a 4-1 victim of Scotland’s latest recruit to the professional ranks, Eden Shara, who had a second-frame break of 140.
Drawn against Belgium’s Luca Brecal, Sam Craigie had his match held over to the first round proper.