Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2024: Judd Trump sweeps Jack Lisowski 6-1 to reach quarter-finals

An imperious Judd Trump swept aside Jack Lisowski 6-1 in a closely contested last-16 clash to set up a quarter-final meeting with Neil Robertson.

Before this meeting, Trump led his matchup with close friend Lisowski 11-5 and had not lost in six years, but it looked like it would be a close fight early on.

But the world number one scored three centuries to take his career total to 995 and, along with some clinical hitting of his own, capitalised on some crucial errors from Lisowski to progress into the quarter-finals.

“I had a good start, I hit a really good ball which helped me calm down, I made a good century. After that, whenever I have a fast start like that I feel very comfortable, it relaxes me and I knew I was going to play well,” he told Eurosport after his victory.

Trump got off to an ideal start, clearing a 126 serve after a Lisowski break to take the first frame in style.

A weaker break from Trump in the second frame gave his opponent an opening, and Lisowski got off to a strong start before some unfortunate snooker to end his break at 17.

Both players were very evenly matched in the second set and it was Lisowski who levelled the tie with a break of 34 on his third attempt.

Both players called for a new rack after an early tie in the third frame caused by a strange red ball that veered into the left centre pocket, but Trump began to pull away, taking a two-frame lead into the interval.

After the players reappeared, things began to get complicated for Lisowski, as some speculative shots and errors on safety shots allowed Trump back into the frame. A break of 61 for the Ace in the Pack put Lisowski 5-1 down and he managed a break of just seven at the start of the sixth, putting too much pace on his shot as he lined up for black and missed.

It was a fatal mistake as Trump ran away with the innings, achieving his second century with a break of 115.

It was a similar story in the seventh frame, when Trump looked relaxed and confident at the table, while Lisowski struggled. Lisowski initially seemed to be gaining momentum, but it all came to a halt when he missed another black from the penalty spot, and Trump responded with a cool and collected break of 105 – his third century – to close out the match in much the same way he started it.

“As I sit in my chair today, I recognize that this is a huge framework,” Trump continued.

“If somebody has an opportunity and they don’t take it and I can clear it, it’s just a body blow, because I feel like I’m going to get to the next frame and not make that mistake,” Trump said.

“Whenever someone comes against me, they have to clear their record, or I’ll clear it myself.”

Trump, who was world champion in 2019, has won 11 of his last 12 rounds and appears to be the favorite for the title.

The 35-year-old survived a scare against China’s Wu Yize to win 5-4 after being 4-0 down at the interval in his opening match of the tournament.

But he picked up where he left off against Lisowski, whose wait for a first ranking title continues.

“I was a little scared to see how it was going to turn out, but it was a completely different table than yesterday,” Trump added.

“I think either the fabric was new or the balls were new and they were being thrown all over the place, today was a little bit more like I’m used to.

“It’s always important when you’re playing against top players to get into the game as quickly as possible and I think that’s something I’ve been really good at over the last few years, making my authority in the game clear from the first shot.”