Judd Trump thanked the enthusiastic crowd in attendance as he won the Wuhan Open on Sunday, incredibly claiming back-to-back ranking titles in two weeks across two continents.
The former world champion downed Ali Carter 10-7 in the final of the first ever Wuhan Open, just seven days after he beat Zhang Anda to win the English Open title in Brentwood, Essex.
Neither man really found their best form in the showpiece, but Trump produced the heavier scoring, knocking in the only two centuries of the match, alongside five half-centuries.
Asked how he managed to score another big win straight after his last one, Trump said: ‘I think it was the support of everyone from China. I think maybe I should move here!’
He added in a press conference: ‘I always enjoy coming to China, so I think I play very well here.
‘There’s so much support and so many fans here, so every time I come to China I think I have more chance of winning than in the UK.
‘I was surprised, it’s a new event so I didn’t think the crowds would be so good. I think that helped me play well here.’
The Wuhan Open was indeed well attended throughout the week and the crowd gave great support to both finalists, cheering them on as they hoped for a close and dramatic contest.
Trump reckons it is as good a crowd as he has ever experienced in China and helped him through what is always a tough battle with the Captain.
‘The crowd in here has been amazing and thank you to everyone for coming and supporting everyone here,’ Trump said. ‘It’s the first time here but this is maybe the best crowd I’ve played in front of in China.
‘It was a very tough final, Ali made it very difficult even though he didn’t play his best, I think we both struggled a little bit, but towards the end I just had a few good splits and I scored the heavier. That was the difference. On another day they could have gone the other way.’
Trump picks up £140,000 for his troubles, to add to the £80,000 he won last week so it has been an extremely profitable few days.
He does not climb the rankings, but is now close behind world number three Mark Allen and is firmly in the hunt to dethrone Ronnie O’Sullivan as world number one.
There were plenty of complaints from players about the scheduling of back-to-back events, with the British Open being played the week before the English Open, so three tournaments ran straight into each other. But Trump has made it clear that it doesn’t have to slow you down.
Carter pockets £63,000 for his efforts and, while disappointed to come up short, was quickly looking on the bright side, with the bonus of sharing the highest break prize of £5,000 with Aaron Hill as they both made a 145.
‘I gave it my best go, it’s been a successful week, the ranking points are very important,’ he said. ‘A lot to look forward to for the rest of the season, I’ve had a great start to the season so far. Onwards and upwards.
‘If somebody had said to me before I came, “You’ll come to Wuhan, enjoy the week, get to the final, make the highest break of the tournament” I’d have taken that with both hands. The final is all about winning but I live to fight another day.’
The final started brightly, with Trump claiming the first frame with a 72 and Carter responding with a 103 in the second.
The Captain looked in a bit of bother shortly after that ton, though, as he lost three frames in which he had chances to fall 4-1 behind.
He is nothing if not a fighter, though, and Carter reeled off four frames on the spin to close out the first session ahead at 5-4. Without much free-flowing scoring but with plenty of hard work and no sign of panic despite falling behind early.
Trump is not one to panic either and he returned for the second session sporting his scoring boots, knocking in breaks of 116, 56 and 71 on his way to opening up a 7-5 lead.
Carter stopped the rot in the 13th and could easily have won the next two but lost them both to fall 9-6 behind and on the brink of defeat.
The former world champion looked like he would wrap things up in the 16th but missed his chance to, missing on 57 and Carter made 68 to go on to win the frame.
Trump was not fussed, though, ending the match in some style as he knocked in a break of 105 to claim the title.
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