Shanghai Masters Snooker: Judd Trump edges to thrilling 6-5 victory over Jack Lisowski to advance into quarter-finals

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 12/09/2023 at 13:25 GMT

Judd Trump certainly made life difficult for himself, but the former world champion survived a huge scare to reach the quarters of the Shanghai Masters. He looked in cruise control after moving 5-2 ahead of Jack Lisowski, and despite the latter showing immense determination to wipe out the deficit, it was Trump who prevailed. A tantalising match-up with Mark Selby or Hossein Vafaei awaits.

Judd Trump progressed into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters with a pulsating 6-5 victory over Jack Lisowski.

It was a match that enthralled the crowd, as an exciting contest between two great friends went the distance.

Lisowski will be left to rue what might have been, after threatening to pull off another memorable comeback following his 6-5 win over Zhou Yuelong on Monday.

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There was nearly a repeat as the world No. 14 recovered from 5-2 down to draw 5-5 before Trump claimed the decisive 11th frame.

"I thought I had blown it when I missed the yellow in the last frame," said Trump.

"He was potting some really good balls and had one tricky shot left, and I thought it was game over because he looked good from 5-2 down.

"I was already thinking about the flight home, but obviously he missed that one. The balls were there but you have to clear up."

World No. 4 Trump struck first with a break of 80, before Lisowski levelled things up with a break of 51.

Trump retook the lead but Lisowski replied again, this time with a superb break of 119.

Former world champion Trump looked to have wrestled control from that point onwards, racing into a 5-2 lead with some scintillating snooker and exhibiting his finest potting skills to land the green in frame six, expertly ricocheting the cue ball off the cushion in the process.

• Williams eases into last 16 in Shanghai
• Shanghai Masters 2023: Latest scores, schedule

Lisowski reduced the arrears to 5-3, showcasing his determination to stay in the fight despite failing to pocket the last red. The deficit was then reduced to one after Lisowski brilliantly cleared the table with a sublime 77 break.

A topsy-turvy ninth frame was left in the balance, with the positioning of the cue ball becoming all the more important. Trump had the look of a worried man once Lisowski potted the brown and finished off with the pink to take this match into a decisive 11th frame.

Lisowski showed incredible confidence in his potting game in the final frame of an enthralling contest by potting the more difficult brown ball and then contortioning his body amazingly well to land the black.

But there were gasps from the crowd as he missed a comparatively simple-looking pink to the middle pocket, allowing Trump to enter the fray.

'Typically classy' Lisowski makes century break against Trump

The match looked to have been slipping away from Trump, but he was left with the yellow, green and brown to pot and secure victory.

Trump subsequently did that, and managed to book his place into round three where he will face either Mark Selby or Hossein Vafaei.

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan starts his bid for a fifth title against Ali Carter on Tuesday afternoon.

Mark Williams moved into the last 16 with a dominant 6-1 win over Pang Junxu.

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Stream the 2023 Shanghai Masters and other top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

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