Judd Trump said that he produced only a fraction of what he’s capable of as he reached the Champion of Champions final on Friday in Leicester.
The world number one defeated world champion Zhao Xintong 6-2 to win the opening semi-final of the invitational event at the Mattioli Arena.
Trump looked shaky early on and quickly fell 2-0 behind, but the 36 year-old fought his way back into the contest and took advantage of some sloppy play from his opponent.
Breaks of 68 and 73 restored parity, and the Bristol potter added further runs of 77, 66, and 63 after the mid-session interval to win six frames on the bounce for victory.
“I missed one in the first frame and he went 2-0 up, but he kind of let me back into it quite easily,” Judd Trump told ITV afterwards.
“I had two unbelievable chances in the next two frames to get my arm going. After that, I kind of just controlled the game really.”
“I had a couple of good breaks and left him in big trouble, there were a few good chances and I scored reasonably heavy.
“I’m happy that I’m in the final, because I’m not at 100%. I’m probably at about 10%.
“So to make a final in a tournament like this when I’m not at my best and I don’t feel that comfortable, I can take a lot of credit.
“After the start I didn’t really miss much, [but] I don’t feel as fluent. Because I really have to take care on every shot. I don’t feel like I can get momentum.
“I just don’t really know what’s going to happen. I think I went 4-2 up and he left me a long red to the bottom pocket, and I got nowhere near.
“I’m just getting going and I’m revving up, and then I slam the brake on. I’m just waiting to win three or four frames with breaks, then he leaves me a long one and I pot that, and then I feel like I’m off on a roll.
“Until that, it’s hard work. Over the last five or six years, though, I know that at my best, nine times out of ten I’m going to win.
“But it’s about trying to do it when you’re not at your best. That’s what I’ve managed to do over the past few years, and probably even harder this year.
“I obviously got to the final a few weeks ago [at the Northern Ireland Open], and it’s obviously nice to be in another final again so soon.”
It has been well-documented how Trump, despite years of consistent success on the main tour, has recently taken the decision to change cues.
So far, it hasn’t led to any silverware with the former world champion’s last triumph transpiring way back at the UK Championship almost a year ago.
“For me, the conditions are so heavy when we play in China and even here, it’s across the world now,” Trump added when pressed on why he changed his cue.
“When I first turned professional 15 or 20 years ago, the tables were unbelievable I thought. There were only two games a day, and you were straight into the last 32.”
“Now you’ve got five or six games a day. The tables are so heavy that, when I get down to aim, the side doesn’t react the same.
“I want to be able to hit the same place everywhere around the world. At the moment, I’m brilliant on good conditions but terrible on bad conditions.
“I think the desire to win is the same, but the only difference is I don’t take it as badly. When you don’t take it as badly, you’re probably never quite as intense.
“I don’t know what it is, I’m still trying my absolute best in every single game. For me, I just try to manage my expectations.
“I don’t want to be losing a game and sitting at home crying about it.
“I think seeing what Jack [Lisowski] went through this year [with the passing of his father] and being there with him changed me, going through that and seeing a different side of life really.
“Before, it’s all been a bit selfish. Then when I see that it’s like, maybe it’s not the end of the world [if I lose].
“But look, I’ll always put in 100%. I’ll always work as hard as anyone, I’ll always want to go out there and win. If I play someone I hate, I still really hate losing.”
It’s the sixth time Trump has reached the final of the Champion of Champions, but only once has he got his hands on the trophy at the end of the week.
He’ll be hoping to improve on that record in Sunday’s title-deciding affair, where he’ll meet the winner of the second semi-final that’ll be contested on Saturday.
Two-time former winner Neil Robertson faces fellow former world number one Mark Selby in another blockbuster showdown.
For more details on the 2025 Champion of Champions, including the full draw, click here.
Featured photo credit: WST
Trump will now appear in his fourth C of C final in the last five years.
I can’t agree with Stephen Hendry, mentioning on commentary, that nobody makes the game look easier. Ronnie O’Sullivan is still very much that player. Zhao’s level at the Crucible was overrated in some quarters. I was pleased to hear Phil Yates, earlier in the week, say Zhao had played to a better standard in the qualification section of this year’s World Championship.
I meant what Hendry said about Zhao.