Maximum Effort Not Enough for Trump

Judd Trump compiled the first 147 break of his career but still lost to Mark Selby 4-3 in the Antwerp Open in Belgium. 

The former world no.1 is one of the most prolific break-builders in the game so it was a little surprising that it has taken him this long to achieve the maximum feat. 

But he has now joined an exclusive club that now stands at 99 professionals – only one away from the landmark ton. 

It’s only the second 147 break this season – after Neil Robertson’s effort in Wuxi in May – but it has been around this stage of the campaign in the last few years where a sudden burst of them have been made. 

The Bristol potter completed the perfect clearance in the third frame when he was 2-0 down to his fellow Englishman and eventually battled back to force a decider in the third round. 

Furthermore, in the sixth frame he was on for an unprecedented second max but fell short on the penultimate red on 104. 

However, Selby settled himself well and needed only one scoring visit himself in the final frame to seal his place in Sunday’s Last 16. 

There, Selby will face Tony Drago, who has done his chances of regaining a place on the Main Tour next season no harm whatsoever with a hat-trick of wins at the Lotto Arena. 

The Maltese recorded solid victories over Michael Wild, Tian Pengfei and Andrew Pagett as he reached the fourth round of a European Tour event for the first time this season. 

Elsewhere, man of the moment Ding Junhui is on course for yet another title as he eased through three rounds including a 4-1 triumph over Ali Carter while his opponent in the next round will be familiar opposition in Marco Fu. 

The man who Ding beat to claim the International Championship in dramatic circumstances a couple of weeks ago is enjoying another good run himself, edging Rod Lawler in the last 64 before easily dispatching Ricky Walden – the highlight being a 133 in the fourth frame. 

Mark Williams, winner of the second event on this series in July, was in a determined mood, racing through his three rounds in consecutive whitewash victories. 

The Welshman will face Indian Aditya Mehta for a place in the quarter-finals, who, in contrast, needed a brace of deciding frame triumphs over Michael Leslie and Alfie Burden to progress. 

Finally, Jack Lisowski and Ryan Day will contest a fourth round tie after both battling through tough encounters on Friday. 

Saturday sees the bottom half of the draw whittled down with the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Allen and John Higgins all in action. 

The full draw can be viewed by clicking here.