Champion of Champions Day 3
Play began yesterday with a match in Coventry that was billed to be a cracker. Stephen Maguire was playing Judd Trump and this had the potential to go all the way. Stephen, reminiscent of Alex when he broke his foot in 1989 and won the Irish Masters in 1989, sported a boot that allowed him to play but looked frustrated as Judd dominated the first part of the match. Thankfully on this occasion he didn’t see and rap his knuckles on the table in disgust otherwise he would have added ti his list of injuries. Maguire was literally on the back foot and this was shown when Stephen just whacked the pack and spread all the reds. The Sot had much to think about when Judd took the first two frames in succession and the hit and hope shot would come back to haunt him throughout the remainder of the match. After producing his first century of the match in the second frame, Trump played on another level and sailed into a three frames advantage, leaving Maguire thinking he should have stayed at home and rested his leg. This was proven when Judd took the next and wrapped up the match with a 4-0 whitewash. Stephen struggled to find his form on the day and wasn’t helped by his injury but you can’t take away the sheer class of Trump in this match and how he ruled the roost, making the table look easy and playing in a relaxed style, usually reserved for the practice table.
In the second match of the afternoon, Kyren Wilson was up against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. This looked like it was going to be a fast match. Wilson who has had mixed form in recent months got off to a good start and took the first frame with a 62 break. However Thepchaiya then started to warm up and Kyren’s first frame seemed to fade into the distance as the Thai took the next two frames, including a break of 51 in the third. Rather like a young Tony Drago, Un-Nooh zipped around the table and managed to take the next frame to make it 3-1. However Kyren wasn’t for giving up just yet and knocked in a 102 break in the next to reduce his deficit in the match to just one frame behind at 3-2. This was followed by Wilson making a 98 break and forcing the match to a deciding frame. However in the end, it was the Thai who looked strong in the first part of the match that win the match, 4-3. This must have been disappointing for Kyren who had previously been a finalist in this tournament.
In the evening’s play, we were in for a treat with two players who play the same style of play and at a rapid pace. Judd Trump versus Thepchaiya Un-Nooh didn’t disappoint. Chances were missed by both players in the first frame but it was Judd who got over the line first to make it 1-0. This lead rolled into the next with Trump making a break of 60 to make it 2-0. With a century break in the next, Judd dominated the match to rack up a commanding 3-0 lead. This then became 4-0 with break of 128. However after the interval, the Thai seemed to get his head together and produced a surge that would put moments of doubt into Judd’s head. Bringing the match back to 5-2 after Judd had taken the sixth frame with an 89 break, the Thai’s aim seemed more probable. He then cut it to 5-3 thanks largely due to a fluke. However Judd took frame and match in the next with a break of 71 and win the the match, 6-3. Trump avoided a scare but you must credit Thepchaiya for a valiant effort after trailing 4-0 at the mid-session interval.
In the second match of the afternoon, Kyren Wilson was up against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. This looked like it was going to be a fast match. Wilson who has had mixed form in recent months got off to a good start and took the first frame with a 62 break. However Thepchaiya then started to warm up and Kyren’s first frame seemed to fade into the distance as the Thai took the next two frames, including a break of 51 in the third. Rather like a young Tony Drago, Un-Nooh zipped around the table and managed to take the next frame to make it 3-1. However Kyren wasn’t for giving up just yet and knocked in a 102 break in the next to reduce his deficit in the match to just one frame behind at 3-2. This was followed by Wilson making a 98 break and forcing the match to a deciding frame. However in the end, it was the Thai who looked strong in the first part of the match that win the match, 4-3. This must have been disappointing for Kyren who had previously been a finalist in this tournament.
In the evening’s play, we were in for a treat with two players who play the same style of play and at a rapid pace. Judd Trump versus Thepchaiya Un-Nooh didn’t disappoint. Chances were missed by both players in the first frame but it was Judd who got over the line first to make it 1-0. This lead rolled into the next with Trump making a break of 60 to make it 2-0. With a century break in the next, Judd dominated the match to rack up a commanding 3-0 lead. This then became 4-0 with break of 128. However after the interval, the Thai seemed to get his head together and produced a surge that would put moments of doubt into Judd’s head. Bringing the match back to 5-2 after Judd had taken the sixth frame with an 89 break, the Thai’s aim seemed more probable. He then cut it to 5-3 thanks largely due to a fluke. However Judd took frame and match in the next with a break of 71 and win the the match, 6-3. Trump avoided a scare but you must credit Thepchaiya for a valiant effort after trailing 4-0 at the mid-session interval.
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