Kyren Wilson won the tenth ranking title of his career as he edged out Judd Trump in a thriller of a final at the Players Championship.
In a battle between the two best players in the world, it was a contest that ebbed and flowed but it was the world number two who ended the match victorious, holding his nerve to prevail 10-9.
It was yet another for the defending World Champion over Trump with Wilson now having gotten the better of his rival for the third time in the last four meetings between the pair. With the pair on a collision course ahead of next month’s World Championship, Wilson will head to the Crucible full of belief that he can become the first World Champion to successfully defend his title since Mark Selby achieved the feat back in 2017.
Wilson and Trump take rivalry to new level as Wilson edges nervy final
Over the decades snooker has been blessed with fantastic rivalries. Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, Steve Davis and Alex Higgins, Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Now there looks to be a new rivalry to add to the list.
Over the course of the last twelve months both Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson have been able to distance themselves as the best two players in the world.
Trump has been a model of consistency and set a new record for the most amount of prize money won in a single calendar year, whereas nobody has won as many titles as Kyren Wilson.
With the pair regularly competing in the latter stages of tournaments, the duo will be the top two seeds at the World Championship and of late the two have been enjoying several memorable tussles.
After clinching his first world title, Wilson’s game has gone from strength to strength and of late it is he who has got the better of Trump.
Beating him in the final of the Grand Prix and Northern Irish Open, Wilson has also enjoyed a big victory over Trump at the Masters and is toasting yet another final victory over his longtime rival with his victory at the Players Championship.
Showing no signs of nerves or pressure, Wilson was able to keep himself cool and calm and clawed back an early 2-0 deficit to trail the first five frames 3-2.
Heading into the sixth frame, it was Wilson who looked to be able to handle the occasion better, going onto take a 4-3 lead.
Despite Trump keeping the contest close and taking a 5-4 lead, Wilson wouldn’t be deterred and rattled off four frames in a row to lead the match 8-5.
With the match in his grasp, Wilson looked to have the finish line in sight, but Trump wouldn’t relinquish the match so easily.
Bouncing back to take the scores to 8-7, Wilson won a vital sixteenth frame to lead 9-7, but the world number one still refused to lie down.
Showing all of the fighting qualities that have made him the world number one, Trump would win the next two frames to level the match at 9-9 and ensure that the tournament would need to be decided in a final frame shootout.
With the frame in the balance and both men feeling the nerves and pressure of the occasion, it was Trump who succumbed. Missing a long red to the corner, Wilson was able to make the decisive pots and claim his fourth title of the season.
Delighted to get his hands on yet another trophy a relieved Wilson stated, ‘It's so special to lift trophies, it was mentioned this week that if I won, I would go level with the legend Jimmy White on 10 ranking titles.
For me growing up, watching a legend like Jimmy, to be level with him is a dream come true. Any time you beat somebody like Judd, he's so far ahead of me in ranking titles I've got to try and make the most of these ones when I get a chance. We're a couple of tournaments away now from the World Championship. It gives me a bit of confidence going into that.’
As for Trump there must be a slight concern ahead of the World Championships that of late it’s Wilson who has enjoyed the better of the exchanges.
Having now lost in three consecutive finals to his great rival, Trump will need to quickly figure out the formula to ensure that heading into the World Championship he can get the better of Wilson.
Often so magnanimous in defeat, Trump spoke well after his narrow loss, exclaiming, ‘It was a difficult game, it wasn't like the rest of the tournament. The white was just very light, it was kind of taking off like a ping-pong ball. I thought it was going to be a brilliant standard, and it kind of bogged us both down a little bit. I had my chance, but well done to Kyren and his family. I look forward to the next one.’
Trump finds himself in a strange position with the World Championships just around the corner.
Without doubt a force of nature when it comes to regular season events, he is well on course to end his career as the game’s most prolific winner when it comes to ranking events, but often legacies and careers are judged by World Championship success and in that sense, Trump has fallen well short of expectations.
Containing all of the talent in the world, Trump has one World Championship to his name but for a man of his immeasurable skill it simply isn’t enough and he will be desperate to amend that record this year, however he certainly won’t have things his own way.
Wilson will be heading to the Crucible full of confidence that he can repeat the feat from twelve months ago and full of belief that he can beat Trump when it matters most.
Mark Selby knows what it takes to win at the Crucible and after winning the Welsh Open, he has momentum behind him. Despite his absence from the game Ronnie O’Sullivan has tasted Crucible success following a long break and if he does take his place in the draw, nobody will want to face him.
John Higgins and Neil Robertson are resurgent and you can never discount the likes of Shaun Murphy or Mark Allen.
After this latest defeat, the wait for a first title of 2025 will continue for Trump, he has a chance to amend that record at the Tour Championship but he has form to find ahead of a vital few weeks.
Jonathan Ashby
Jonathan Ashby, at 35, boasts a deep well of knowledge about the world of snooker. A specialist with a passion for the game's history, techniques, and players, he provides invaluable insights to both novices and seasoned enthusiasts. Through his articles, Jonathan aims to share the rich tapestry and nuances of this beloved cue sport.
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