Judd Trump Beats Ryan Day to Reach Third Round, but the Wait for his 1000th Century Remains
Judd Trump advanced at the British Open to reach the third round after victory over Ryan Day, but the former world champion could not make it 1000 career centuries. Trump claimed his 999th ton in the first round, but his wait for the landmark goes on. “I didn’t really have an opportunity in that game,” Trump said. “I’m not too disappointed about that. I’d rather save it for later on.”
Judd Trump was chasing his 1000th career century in the second round of the British Open on Tuesday and, although he could not find it, he overcame Ryan Day to reach the last 32.
The world No. 1 sealed a relatively comfortable 4-2 victory to make the third round, where he will play either Mark Davis or Xiao Guodong on Thursday for a spot in the last 16.
Trump came closest to reaching his magic century break in the final frame against Day when he put together a run of 80, but it was not to be as he progressed with knocks of 55 and 64.
“It was a little bit different from my first game, it was a bit more of a struggle, a bit more going on,” Trump told ITV after his victory.
“Ryan didn’t play his best and it kind of got to both of us. In the end, I was happy just to get over the line in that last frame and made quite a good break to finish it off.”
John Higgins joined Ronnie O’Sullivan as the only two players to make 1000 centuries following his effort at the English Open last week, with Trump looking to become the third player to reach the landmark number.
However, Trump said it was “not on [his] mind” when he was at the table, as he looked to follow up his first-round win against Robert Milkins on Monday.
“There wasn’t really a great chance,” he said. “I think the balls ran quite difficult. There was just the odd thing here and there which meant the game wasn’t able to really flow.
“I didn’t really have an opportunity in that game, I’m not too disappointed about that. I’d rather save it for later on in the tournament.”
Trump opened with a break of 55 before Day levelled proceedings in the second frame.
The 2019 World Champion moved ahead again after three frames and then, after going 3-1 up, had the chance to steal the match but missed a vital black.
Day kept himself in contention and closed the deficit to one frame, but he was too wasteful in the latter stages as Trump capitalised to deliver a break of 80 and seal the match.