'The best clearance I have ever done' - Judd Trump recalls Mark Williams final ahead of 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters
Published 09/08/2025 at 09:32 GMT+1
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Judd Trump has taken a look back at his epic victory over Mark Williams at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters ahead of this year's tournament. The Welshman seemed destined to win the match after producing a break of 62. However, The former world champion capitalised on a mistake with a clearance of 72 to claim the victory with the final black. Trump will enter the 2025 tournament in the fifth round.
Trump recalls epic Saudi final against Williams and lays out hope for future of snooker
Video credit: TNT Sports
Judd Trump believes he produced the best clearance of his career to beat Mark Williams in the final of the first edition of the Saudi Arabia Masters last year.
The Ace in the Pack has returned to Riyadh this week in a bid to retain the title he claimed after defeating Williams in a thriller 12 months ago.
Trump almost let the victory and £300,000 slip through his fingers as Williams produced a break of 62 with the score at 9-9, but after the Welshman missed a red, the world No. 1 produced a clearance of 72 to seal the victory.
Trump believes that the victory is among the greatest moments of his career.
"I have won a lot of big tournaments, done a lot of great things in the game, but that is definitely up there," he said.
"It’s a top-three or top-five moment. Just to do it under that pressure. The clearance that I was able to produce doesn’t come around very often.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"The magnitude of that final, it was probably the best clearance I have ever done.
"I have always had a great record in new tournaments. I don’t know what it is. I always want to be the first winner of any new tournament.
"It was a great tournament for me and I look forward to being back there to try and replicate what I did last year."
The £300,000 difference in prize money between first place and second added immense pressure to an already exciting clash. However, Trump insists that the cash did not enter his mind until he pocketed the final black.
"Not at this point [the money did not enter his mind], you just don’t want to lose," he said.
"You are trying everything not to lose. I think as soon as the last black went in, it went into my mind. I realised pretty quickly that I had made myself £300,000, which is nice.
"But I think at this point, everything you have done throughout your whole career, all the practice, clearing up the colours, the amount of times I have done it over and over again means you are playing on instinct and playing on memory really.
"You are a bit spaced out, it’s just naturally now, you have done it so many times, cleaning up the colours."
Trump will enter the draw in the fifth round along with the likes of Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and world No. 2 Zhao Xintong.
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The 35-year-old recalled his celebrations after his victory in last year’s final ahead of the start of the tournament.
"In that magnitude of a game, anything is missable," he said. "I remember before the black even went in the pocket, I was fist-pumping already.
"I was so full of adrenaline when it got to that point. I knew as soon as I hit it, it was in, and you can see the celebrations after, I suppose what is one of my best wins ever."
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