World Grand Prix snooker in Hong Kong: Trump dazzles with 146 break to storm into semis
Shaun Murphy also reaches last four at Kai Tak Arena by knocking out John Higgins, and Neil Robertson beats Xiao Guodong
Judd Trump produced a commanding performance to cruise into the semi-finals of snooker’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong on Friday.
The top seed and Hong Kong resident not only finished with a flourish against Hossein Vafaei – he also started with one, then added two more in the middle before an emphatic final salvo.
A stunning opening break of 145, the highest of the tournament, was followed by two further 100-plus efforts before he completed a 5-0 victory with a 146, drawing a roar from the local support.
The Post estimated the audience to number a still modest 700, but Trump provoked from them the kind of response the organisers will have hoped for at the 5,300-seat Kai Tak Arena.
“Great crowd and a great arena,” Trump said. “It’s always nice to go out and put on a performance like that, and amazing to do that in front of a Hong Kong crowd, so it was a special game.
“I didn’t really put a foot wrong. It makes it even more special when you can play like that on the biggest stages. It’s nice to get that one out of the way, but there are potentially two more tough games yet.”