German Masters title
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Judd Trump Captures German Masters Title

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Judd Trump has won the German Masters title for the first time after a 9-6 defeat of Neil Robertson on Sunday in Berlin.

Victory for the world number one at the Tempodrom represents his fourth ranking success of the season, and his 15th career glory at this level overall.

The world champion will subsequently have several chances for the remainder of this term to equal the record of five for a single campaign.

While the showdown was an entertaining affair, it didn’t prove to be quite as free-flowing as the pair’s thrilling Champion of Champions encounter in November.

Robertson scored five century breaks in Coventry that day but managed only three breaks above 50 today as he struggled to keep up with his opponent.

Several frames required long tactical battles before being sorted out, but it was Trump’s superior scoring power overall that probably proved the ultimate difference on this occasion.

When Robertson fought back from 2-1 behind to lead 4-2 – compiling runs of 120 and 77 either side of a frame-pinching clearance to the black – it looked as though the Australian might be on course to seal successive ranking trophies.

The 37 year-old romped to the European Masters triumph last week in Austria but it was unlikely going to be that comfortable again.

So it proved, as Trump fought back to restore parity at the end of the opening session, before winning three out of the first four frames of the evening’s bout of play as well to lead 7-5.

By this point, Robertson looked like a man who had run out of gas but he managed to share the next couple of frames to just about keep in touch.

Trump, though, duly settled himself with an even ton, a timely first century break of the final, to complete the victory.

Just like in the World Open towards the end of 2019, Trump excellently married his scoring power with an all-round game that continues to improve and which kept Robertson potless for large periods in the second session.

By winning the German Masters title, the 30 year-old pockets £80,000 and narrows the gap to Robertson in the inaugural European Series.

With victory, the latter would have collected the £150,000 bonus on offer for finishing on top of the order of merit that comprises the last two ranking events plus the upcoming Shoot Out and Gibraltar Open.

As it is, Trump lies just £35,000 behind the Melbourne man in the mini-rankings list, so the duo could be set for rare appearances in Watford and Gibraltar as they battle with each other for the jackpot.

Before that, Trump will begin the defence of the World Grand Prix next week brimming in confidence again after etching his name onto more silverware.

Since lifting the Masters crown for the first time in early 2019, the Bristol potter has accumulated six ranking trophies.

Trump is way out in front in the world rankings and looks as though he’ll remain there for quite some time to come.

After a very brief disappointing period either side of Christmas when he suffered early defeats in both the UK Championship and the Masters, Trump has quickly reminded everyone why he is the dominant player in the game at present.

Capturing the German Masters title will be extra sweet as the tournament is widely considered to be one of the best on snooker’s calendar.

Year after year – this was the tenth time visiting the Tempodrom – the fans in Berlin turn out in their thousands to support the competition and the atmosphere is like no other on the circuit.

Trump thrives under these kinds of conditions and, after losing in the final six years ago, thoroughly deserved to emerge as the rightful winner this time.