Trump continues fine run with Group One success - 10/01/2012

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JUDD Trump became the first player to qualify for the Winners’ Group of the 2012 Championship League Snooker.

Trump won the event in 2009 and is in contention to do so again after he claimed a 3-2 victory over Shaun Murphy in the Group One final at Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex.

Judd Trump.

The Romford-based Bristolian earned £6,000 for his efforts and will return to the same venue in March to contest the final stages of the internet-only streamed competition.

In a high quality performance, Trump recorded breaks of 121 and then 118 in the penultimate frame to progress. Murphy, who netted £5,000, returns tomorrow when Group Two commences.

“I saved my best performance for the final and I had missed quite a few shots every day, but then again everyone did and no one is that sharp after Christmas,” said Trump who won the UK Championship last month.

“I’m glad I won the final as Shaun played well and really pushed me.

“Of the competitions I’ve gone in, I’m doing well or winning in 50 per cent at the moment and that brings a lot of confidence and I’m taking more shots on.

“I’m not thinking about missing and I’m getting a lot of chances and taking them but there will be a time when safety play has to come in.

“My game has improved by 50 per cent since this time last year and the confidence I’ve got is the main part of that. I’ve always been a good player but lacked that killer edge when playing on TV or in tournaments like this but now I’m so confident.

“The Premier League is a big part of the season and it’s always nice to get the TV coverage and play on TV every week. You get to travel to different venues, there’s always a packed crowd and it’s really good to watch.”

Earlier, Trump had defeated Mark Selby in the semi-final while Murphy had put paid to East Sussex cueman Mark Davis’s hopes. Both losing semi-finalists also return tomorrow.

The play-off stages saw £300 awarded for each frame won with bonuses of £3,000 (winner), £2,000 to the runner-up and £1,000 apiece for the semi-finalists. The top break prize of £500 for Group 1 went to Andrew Higginson, who was eliminated from the competition alongside Ali Carter.

The Championship League Snooker event is a venture between Matchroom Sport and Perform where 25 of the game's finest players compete with all matches broadcast on a host of betting websites.

Each group features seven players with each man playing the other six once in a round-robin basis. Every match is the best of five and the winner gaining a point. At the end of the league phase the top four advances to that group's semi-finals where the two winners meet in the final.

Each group winner then goes through to the final group on March 21st and 22nd where big money as well as a spot in the Sky Sports-televised Premier League Snooker is up for grabs. The two bottom players are eliminated from the competition, while the remaining four move forward to Group Two to be joined by three new players.

Play continues tomorrow at 11.00am in Group Two where Selby, Murphy, Davis, and Matthew Stevens are joined by Neil Robertson, Mark Williams and Stuart Bingham.