Judd Trump rolls into Wuhan Open last 32 with virtuoso victory over He Guoqiang, to face tough test next
Defending champion Judd Trump dispatched home favourite He Guoqiang to move into the last 32 at the Wuhan Open.
Trump looks well set for a third title of the season, making back-to-back century breaks in a 5-2 win.
The Chinese cueist started well with the highest-scoring break of the match, a 139, but could not replicate that performance in the later frames.
Judd Trump continued his Wuhan Open title defence with a 5-2 victory over home favourite He Guoqiang.
The defending champion made breaks of 116 and 137 in consecutive frames, winning four in a row before a late wobble in the sixth frame, to move into the last 32.
His opponent made the best break of the match – 139 in the first – but was unable to back up that impressive start as Trump ran away with the tie.
The defending champion has started well in Wuhan, notching three century breaks in his 5-1 rout of Polish rookie Antoni Kowalski in the opening round, and produced a similar display here.
After He’s excellent start, Trump began to assert himself, taking the second and third frames with breaks of 55 and 67. The home hopeful only managed two points in the fourth frame and none in the fifth as Trump made 116 and 137, leaving He with a mountain to climb.
The Chinese player won a consolatory sixth frame with 84 to Trump’s 28, but had left himself too much to do as a break of 68 sealed the match for the Englishman.
After a surprise quarter-final exit at the British Open, Trump looks to have bounced back and to be a strong contender for a third title of the season, following wins at the Shanghai and Saudi Arabia Masters.
He will next face Anthony McGill after the Scot overcame Mostafa Dorgham 5-4.
In the other overnight sessions (UK time), last year’s finalist Ali Carter beat Mark Davis 5-4, while there were also wins for Jak Jones and Jack Lisowski.
Mark Allen’s withdrawal due to a family illness meant Jamie Clarke received a bye into the next round.
Gary Wilson, meanwhile, suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Ben Woollaston, losing five on the bounce having taken the opener.
Woollaston made three half-century breaks to Wilson’s none, edging ahead in the key moments in a fairly closely-contested tie that belied the eventual scoreline.