Judd Trump punishes Matthew Selt for ‘overthinking’ to clinch spot in last 16 - 'He knew it was a big chance'
Published 22/10/2024 at 22:39 GMT+1
Judd Trump recovered from a minor blip to secure a comeback 4-2 victory over Matthew Selt in the second round of the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday. Trump was quick out of the blocks with an immediate break of 58 before sloppiness saw him surrender the subsequent two to go 2-1 down. The world No. 1 soon regained his momentum, and rattled home three frames, finishing with a stunning 141 break.
'Dug himself out of trouble' - Trump hits 141 break to seal second round NI Open victory over Selt
Video credit: TNT Sports
Defending Northern Ireland Open champion Judd Trump thought Matthew Selt was "overthinking" their second round clash, after he surrendered a 2-1 lead to the world No. 1, who rallied to a 4-2 victory.
Trump's fast start was initially cancelled out by Selt, who seized on the defending champion's mistakes to take a surprise 2-1 lead in the tie.
He could not uphold the momentum, however, as Trump re-gained his dominance with three consecutive frames to continue to the last 16.
"I scored very heavy," Trump told Eurosport. "I think Matt, after he settled down, he started to look really good, and I think there was maybe that one frame where maybe he took a little too much time.
"The balls were probably too good for him and he was thinking too much. It was just overthinking a little bit.
"I think he knew it was a big chance and maybe in his head, built it up a little bit bigger than he needed to, but it's not easy out there is it, when you've got that kind of chance and you know you need to put your opponent under it."
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He added: "I could tell he was very worried about leaving the odd ball out and all the safety was trying to keep it as tight as possible."
Trump stormed to an impressive start, bagging a 58 break to kick-off proceedings, though surviving a momentary scare with the white slamming into the jaws of the top left after potting a pink to left middle.
The world No. 1's matters were helped by some early sloppiness from Selt. His attempt at a long red along the cushion caught another red face-on, allowing Trump to put the yellow and green on cushions.
Another Selt mistake saw Trump run home a further eight, with the former declaring to put the 2023 champion 1-0 up.
But Trump slumped to a poor second frame, as the deft touch he showcased for his lightning fast start crumbled with a couple of poor misses on easy reds.
The second of which, at 25-9 down in the frame, saw him send a close-range red into the jaws of the right middle – allowing Selt to build an advantage for a 63-9 lead and close out to level at 1-1.
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'Let off' for Selt as 'surprising' Trump miss on red sees world No. 1 lose the second frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
Trump's short-lived capitulation was made worse by a third frame which saw him take just one visit to the table, Selt taking control of proceedings and putting together a run of 81 to forge 2-1 ahead.
It was only a matter of time until the world No. 1 found his groove once more, and he did so in the fourth with a spectacular long red with enough side to get a good shot at the black.
More smart play saw The Ace break the pack while potting a pink, allowing him to continue his run to 74, getting him back on level terms at 2-2.
A safety battle in the fifth frame saw an eventual opening for Trump with a long red. The world No. 1, however, spurned it, as Selt went on to put a run together.
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Trump feels Selt was 'overthinking' in Northern Ireland Open second round clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
At 56-13, he was halted twice after going for power and angling a pair of reds all wrong. Trump seized upon the mistakes to finally put his own run together, before skewing an easy-looking brown but fluking a snooker.
Trump's return to the baize saw another attempt at the stubborn brown, which yielded the same result, another snooker for Selt who could not sink the blue and opened up the table for Trump to run home a 3-2 advantage.
And The Ace ran home victory in spectacular style, shooting off a clearance of 141 to set up a last 16 clash with either John Higgins or Barry Hawkins.
Stream the 2024-25 Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
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