Coronavirus might be kicking in the air and in several streets across Europe, but it is not enough to keep the best fingers away from the Gibraltar Open. Snooker still carries on in spite of the global shutdown on most other sporting activities.
Although the Gibraltar Open was later made to be played behind closed doors because of the threat the pandemic poses. Yet, a lack of fanfare at the arena would not be enough to take the colors away from the battle between world number one, Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson.
All frames were exhausted in the tense and nerve-wracking seven-frame final encounter between the English duo. At the end, it was Judd Trump who came out tops. After five frames, Wilson had taken the lead for the first time in the game.
However, soon after, Trump forced a decider in the most Juddernaut-way ever – a total clearance of 123. How sweet! He was built for these kind of games. With an eagle’s mentality, he can bulldoze his ways through tough times in pitbull-esque fashion.
The English man has now become the first ever player in the sport to win six ranking titles in a single season. Also, he would be smiling to the bank after bagging the prize money of £50,000 and pocketing the £150,000 bonus for topping the European Series mini ranking list.
There was only so much Wilson could do to stage a fight. From the very start, it always looked like a win for Trump. There’s none who’s been better than the English man this season.
He’s been monstrous, storming through tournaments all season. Ironically, Wilson had the better head-to-head coming into the final. However, with Trump in the form of his life, it would only be a fairytale wish to imagine that Wilson would breeze past the world number one unscathed.
Trump started the game on the front foot, making a statement etched in gold with a clearance of 125. Wilson however issued an emphatic reply, with a clearance of 115 of his own.
Trump who doesn’t look tired of doing centuries made another of 144, before Wilson picked up two frames on the trot to make it 3-2. The determined Trump then levelled matters before winning the deciding frame.
Written by: Roland Arum
