Judd Trump is one win away from a fifth ranking title of the season after beating Jackson Page in the semi-finals of the World Open.
Trump will face China’s Ding Junhui in the final in Yushan after beating an unfortunate Page 6-2, the Welshman cutting his finger while taking his cue out of its case before the match.
“The buckle of the case ripped the skin on my finger,” Page said. “I was praying for it not to bleed, but then it started bleeding.
The story of semi-final 1️⃣
Trump will be back for the final tomorrow! 💪#WorldOpen #JuddTrump pic.twitter.com/dHt4MLiuPY
— WST (@WeAreWST) March 23, 2024
“I tried putting a plaster on, but then I couldn’t feel the cue so I had to take it off. It’s not an ideal start in your first semi-final.”
Trump, who won this event the last time it was staged in 2019, opened with a break of 122 and won four frames in a row following the interval after Jackson’s break of 72 had made it 2-2.
“It was a scrappy game, neither of us played well, we both missed a lot of balls,” Trump said.
“It was Jackson’s first semi-final and he didn’t really settle, my experience probably made the difference.
“I haven’t played that well this week, I have scraped my way through with sheer determination, but that has been the case at other tournaments I have won this season. Hopefully things click in the final.”
Victory in the final would give world number two Trump a 28th career ranking title, moving him level with Steve Davis on the all-time list and behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.
DING BEATS ROBERTSON 6-5 TO REACH THE FINAL! 😲
That decider 😅#worldopen pic.twitter.com/sBFeCdkBSi
— WST (@WeAreWST) March 23, 2024
The other semi-final proved a tense affair between Ding and Neil Robertson, which went to a deciding frame.
Breaks of 67 and 118 had seen Robertson open up an early 3-1 lead.
Ding, though, responded with two half-century runs of his own to edge back in front.
Robertson made 128 in the ninth frame despite becoming frustrated with the frequent interruptions from mobile phones in the noisy crowd, the Australian appearing to point out one serial offender to the referee.
However, Ding responded again as he took a tense 10th frame with a break of 68.
Then after Robertson had missed a chance to wrap up victory when looking set on a break of 53, the world number nine clinched a hard-earned place in the final with a run of 24 to win the deciding frame 70-56.