Super Saturday at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters saw Judd Trump clinch the title after a sensational 10-9 win against Mark Williams in a black ball-deciding final.
Live from the Green Halls, Riyadh, audiences enjoyed a gripping contest as two of the greatest players of all time went head-to-head in a match destined to be remembered for many years to come. After an 18-frame battle, the atmosphere was electric inside a sold-out arena as Williams built up a 62-point lead before a long-range miss gave Trump a chance. With a superb 72 clearance, Trump clinched the match, potting a last black to clinch the title.
In the immediate aftermath of his Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters triumph, the world no.1 said: “To pull off that clearance at the end under that pressure like that; it means this certainly ranks up there with the best wins of my career – it’s in the top two or three. It’s such a great feeling and there was so much elation and disbelief when that black went in. I’m in shock at the moment – but it’s been a life-changing week and I’m delighted to get the win.”
Trump continued: “It’s a match I always look forward to when I’m playing Mark. It’s a privilege to be playing in this era of snooker against players like him. I’ve never seen anybody pot long shots from that distance like he did tonight – he was the much better player for the majority of the match, but I managed to get over the line at the end with that clearance. I was in my seat hoping for a chance in the last frame and fortunately it came.”
It was advantage Trump after Saturday’s afternoon session with The Ace in the Pack leading 3-1 at the interval, extending his advantage to 4-1 before Williams bounced back with successive centuries.
A 121 in the sixth and 132 in the seventh moved the Welshman within one frame at 4-3 before Trump took the eighth to lead 5-3 heading into the evening’s play.
When the match resumed, Williams showed precisely why he’s known as ‘The Welsh Potting Machine’. The three-time World Champion emerged from the break in blistering form, hitting another century en route to winning four of the next five to turn the match on its head and lead 7-6.
Trump responded in frame 14, hitting a cool 76 to make it 7-7. The 2019 World Champion then regained the lead at 8-7 before Williams responded once more, effectively making it a Best-of-3 sprint to the finishing line.
Williams again restored the lead. An incredible 138 – his fourth century of the match – moved the 49-year-old within one frame of victory before Trump equalized at 9-9 with a 90 breaking – setting up the deciding last frame where the 35-year-old came out on top.
With his victory, Trump scooped the fifth major title of his career and 29th ranking event win, moving him beyond 28 and the legendary Steve Davis into fourth outright on the all-time list – behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36), and John Higgins (31).
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters was part of an incredible year-round schedule of sport in the Kingdom with a series of events across football, F1, boxing, esports, golf, tennis, and more locked in throughout 2024.
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