2007 888.com World Championship

MATCH BY MATCH LIVE MATCH NOTES [CLICK ON MATCH FOR LIVE COMMENTARY, NEWS, QUOTES]

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SHAUN MURPHY v JUDD TRUMP

Round One - Match 12 (Best of 19 frames)

...  Good morning and welcome to the opening frames of what promises to be a lively and entertaining match... A good opening safety shot by Judd will help settle his Crucible nerves... Despite the fact that Murphy is quite a few years older than Judd and already a former World Champion, both players learned their trade in English junior snooker and each, in their relative generation, enjoyed unprecedented success... Murphy pots the opening ball of the match, but he's taken the white back to baulk so he'll lay a snooker... A good escape by Judd and gets the white safe... and as we watch this all-English match a chance to wish a Happy St George's day to all the English viewers... That attempted pot by Judd has stayed out but he's been lucky not to leave an easy opener for Shaun... There's a packed audience to watch this match and they've just seen Judd fluke a red... he's got all the reds in the open so this is a nice chance for 17 year old to settle down and put a few points on the board... Judd is only the third 17 year old to appear at the Crucible, after Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan... oh well it's all going nicely for Judd, now he's fluked the yellow to keep the break going.. but not such a good sign that he was missing the intended pocket... Judd plays at a very fast pace and already he's got referee Johan Ooman on his toes.. but he's missed the black along the rail, but 21 points for the youngster... He's left Murphy a chance this time and Shaun will be very anxious to impose himself quickly on this match and this is a good chance... It doesn't seem very long ago that Shaun was the young rookie coming to the Crucible for the first time, but in this match he takes the role of experienced veteran compared to Judd, who is proudly displaying his Pontin's logo... Judd is the youngest ever winner of the Pontin's Open... an event which forms part of the fabulous Pontin's Spring Festival, which this year takes place from 18-25 May at the wonderful World Snooker Centre.. It is open to every player on the planet and usually attracts around 500 players for a week of non stop snooker with events for all age groups as well as the coveted Open... Meanwhile Murphy has quickly moved on to 47, a warning to Judd about what will happen if he misses... Murphy looks very assured and this is going to be a very stern test for Trump on his Crucible debut... this is Trump's second season on the professional tour and yet he won't be eighteen until August... but of course his opponent made his professional debut a few weeks short of his sixteenth birthday... but Murphy has cleared up in style to lead 1-0...

A little inexperience from Judd and he's given Murphy a chance straight from the off in frame two... Murphy's raced to 32, all blacks so far... but no chance of a maximum as he takes the blue to keep the break going... a good long blue from Murphy as the break goes to 52... this is ominous for Trump... and a break of 96 makes it 2-0...

..Judd's missed a red at pace but this time he's done no damage at the start of frame three... despite his awesome record in junior snooker, he will be severely punished at this level for any careless errors... seasoned professionals during the qualifying rounds at Pontin's have been quick to praise Trump's obvious talent, but then after beating him, have been good enough to offer the young man and his family some useful advice... he needs to take it on board quickly or else this could be a rout... Meanwhile Murphy has found a red and he's got the reds open.. he's going to try and bully young Judd out of this match... it's a hard school.... Murphy is yet to miss a pot he's attempted.... he's already 56 ahead in frame three... well at last a let off for Trump... Murphy has missed frame ball red... so can Trump claw back a 63 point deficit... no he can't... Murphy has found the red he needs and should go 3-0 up barring snookers... and Judd's conceded....

Judd's got the opening red but he's missed brown to centre... and left Murphy an easy start again... but not ideal position and Shaun's missed blue to the corner... well it's Shaun's turn to leave a red on from his safety... can Judd get amongst the balls and bring his potting and break-building skills to the match... this is only Judd's second tv appearance, after qualifying in the Grand Prix at the start of the season... but of course THIS is the Crucible and he's got the cameras and the audience breathing down his neck and at the back of his mind the knowledge that countless millions are watching his efforts, all over the world.... he's made 14 and taken on a kamikaze red which he's missed... his shot selection is showing his lack of experience at the moment.... somehow Murphy's red to middle had a look at the back of the pocket and didn't like what it saw so a let off for Judd... He must put some points on the board here both in the context of the match and to help him settle down... he's made 14 and leads 29-6 but he's missed a little red down the rail and left it on... well maybe another reprieve as Shaun loses position... well a little tactical battle now... but Trump breaks the deadlock and now a chance for the young man... now at last Trump is in familiar territory, right in amongst the reds and black and he's rattled on to 31 and leads 53-15, he's going to win the frame...

The players are back from their interval and Judd breaks off... but he's missed a long red, but no harm done, the white is safely back to the baulk cushion... Trump will be a lot happier now he's won a frame and he's had time during the interval to think about how he will approach the rest of the session... he may opt to tighten up his game and opt for safety rather than risky pot sometimes... I spoke too soon, he's missed a red, caught it far too thick and the white stayed near the blue spot, but Murphy has missed a risky one so he's handed the advantage straight back to Trump... Judd will be delighted to see Murphy miss a couple of balls and ease up on the pressure a bit... especially at this is a nice chance to build a break and he's onto 22 already... these boys pot faster than I can type!! Judd's missed a red to centre but he's not left anything and has a 30 point lead... Murphy's gone off the boil after his good start.. he's missed a red to yellow pocket and Judd is back with another chance... This is looking good for Judd, he's now 44 ahead with plenty more at his mercy... he should close to 3-2 and will now be giving Murphy something to think about... a good shot to open three more reds... it should be plain sailing now... he's 71 ahead with 67 on and now it's game on...

... Murphy gets a good white off the break and Judd has left the white mid-table, a red on for Murphy but no obvious colour to follow... this is not straightforward as black is tied up, but Murphy's manufactured 16 point so far... this is clever break-building from Murphy, who's got the pink open and is working the break off the pink... he's moved along to 44 and there are still 3 reds covering the black.... he's 59 ahead now with 67 left, he's nearing the winning line in this frame... and the break of 73 opens up a two frame lead again...

...No clean cut opening for either player yet in frame seven... A very good morning to our visitors from all over the world... GCS has a unique tracking map which shows our online visitors at any one time and it's wonderful to see visitors from as far apart as America-Japan-Russia-Africa-Australia and right across Europe enjoying the coverage of the snooker... a particular good morning to out visitors from Yekaterinburg, way over there in Siberia... we were lucky enough to visit that wonderful city in 2005 for the European Under 19 championship... an incredible experiences for all the players and officials... we had -18° temperatures and waist-high snow but didn't feel the cold... unlike the dreary damp UK weather it is a "clean" cold and everyone enjoyed romping in the snow!... Murphy has manufactured an opening, a difficult red with all the extensions on his cue, but he's out for the black and if he can open the pack he'll have a really good chance to score heavily... and he's done well and moved the scoreboard along to 30-3 but he's missed a red with the rest into the green pocket, so plenty of time for Judd to get back into this frame... and he's laid a great snooker there... this could produce rewards... Murphy's clobbered the blue at his first escape attempt... so it goes back... much closer this time but no pot for Judd so try number three coming up for Murphy... he's come the other side of a red this time and it's 15 useful points already for Trump... back it goes again... and now Murphy's left a red on for Judd.... just shows how a clever snooker can pay dividends... he's right back in this frame... It's a grey day outside in Sheffield but this is a bright sunny match and Trump moves 48-30 ahead and he's got the reds where he needs them... and that's the frame in the bag and Judd's highest break of the match so far... a fabulous 93 clearance and a massive roar of approval from the packed audience...

...unlucky for Judd as his slow roll safety shot drifted a bit and hit the pink not the pack, but apart from six points away he hasn't left anything... we're already into frame eight of a quick-fire session... no danger of these two being pulled off!  Murphy's got a red and he's spread the pack off the blue... he needs to make something now to stop Judd in his tracks... Murphy's moved along to 25 but the black is still tied up... it's open now and the lead goes to 54... the break ends at 49 but Murphy's tucked the white tight behind the yellow.. good escape from Judd and nothing easy on for Murphy... but he's found an excellent red and is plumb on the black... it should be frame to Murphy in a minute... and it is...

... last frame of the session and big frame as it will be the difference between 6-3 or 5-4 and Judd's got off to a flyer.. rattled a red in, split the pack and he's already on 29... he's moved along to 44 and going very well here... Murphy is an interested spectator and despite leading 3-0 he knows he's really got a match on now... great play from Judd... he's got to 57 but couldn't nudge another out of the pack so a nice 57 point lead, but there's still 83 on and Murphy can still mount a recovery.... Murphy's safety has just brought the white off the top cushion an inch or two and Judd is eyeing up a tricky red to the centre and there's no safety net as there's a red down at the baulk end... fabulous pot from Judd... he's giving his next shot plenty of thought... pot the brown to centre or play the snooker... he's opting for the snooker... good thinking... bad misjudgement by Murphy, he's hit the pink so Judd's got a 64 point lead now... Murphy's hit them this time and got away with it as he didn't hit the red he was aiming for... there's a long red here for Shaun.... if it goes in he's got a chance to get back in the frame... but he's opting for safety to wait for a better chance... now it's Judd's turn to look at the long red that Murphy refused... he's missed it but got the white back to the side rail... Judd's caught his next safety too thick and Murphy can take a red on but he's got a lot of work to do as three reds are now on the side cushion... the red is in so he controls the table now... well he's got a tough red down the rail and still needs to move the last two... he's missed that with the rest so he trails 22-64 and Trump has quickly despatched the red and black to win the frame...

.. Good evening and welcome back to this intriguing match... Judd Trump fought back very well this morning after Murphy had led 3-0... a little safety exchange while they try and work an opening in frame ten... and the opening falls to Trump... he's made 27 but left a hard red which stayed out of the centre pocket... Murphy's thumped a red in, and all seven remaining reds are in the open for him, but the black is tied up so he'll have to use pink and blue... and it's hard to keep going back for the blue and Murphy's run too far, so a hard pink with the rest, too hard... and Trump can capitalise... a good shot by Trump to screw back for the blue to keep his break going... he leads 45-13 now and only two reds left... and red and pink leave Murphy needing a snooker, but he's snookered himself... he's missed that but hasn't conceded...

... a miss by Murphy gifts a chance to Trump in frame eleven... he's made 41 but couldn't manufacture a plant out of the pack but he played with a strong element of safety... Trump is sporting a little diamond stud in his left ear... Trump's fizzed another red in, he's really beginning to show the audience just what he can do... these are worrying times for Murphy... here's another player who can pot as well as him, and he's showing no sign of nerves tonight... and he's got the frame in the bag and takes the lead for the first time in the match... this is exhibition snooker from trump, doesn't the boy know where he is! He's even taking shots right-handed as well as left... watch out Ronnie! A wonderful virtuoso 85 break...

...Trump's potted a red at the start of frame twelve but he's snookered himself on the colours... and has missed them twice... but he has to hit a colour because he can see the black, although he'd rather hit the yellow.... well he's hit that okay third time and covered the red near the pocket which was worrying him... Murphy's found a red, he hasn't got a clear cut opening with black and pink tied up... he's taking his time to sort out a good safety shot... Trump's gone for a near impossible red to centre, missed it and clattered into the pack... a Birthday present for Murphy... Murphy still has the problem that black and pink are in bad positions, so he's trying to pick off reds to open them up and going down for the blue in the mean time... a great long pink by Murphy and the pink is going on the black spot, the frame is at his mercy now... and he's levelled again at 6-6, it's punch and counter-punch now... Trump looks a bit light-weight beside Murphy, albeit a new slim-line Murphy, after his fitness campaign...

...Trump has missed a red and run the white in off instead to leave Murphy an easy starting red in frame thirteen... there's some oohs and aahs from the adjoining table as Stephen Maguire has taken 8 reds and blacks and is on a potential 147,

see Maguire v Perry... I understand he's missed a red at 64... meanwhile Murphy has only made 17 from that opening so a little safety to see who can find a chance... if there's a red anywhere, then Judd will probably go for it... and he did go for one, but he's got away with it this time... he got severely punished in the last frame for his reckless shot selection... this time he's even luckier as he goes for another low percentage red and ends up fluking it... but no colour so he doesn't gain any reward from another ill-considered shot... Trump's dug out a red now but an unlucky flick on the pink has spoiled position... he's missed a red bridging down on it, but they're both missing now as Murphy fluffs an easy black... well it's all going wrong for both players now, Johan Ooman looks favourite to win this frame! Judd's fouled, the frame is getting rather scrappy and now Judd has double-kissed the red on his safety attempt.. now Murphy is taking time to think his safety through or will he take red to centre as a shot to nothing... he's opted for a tight safety shot... time to calm things down a bit, it's been fast and furious so far tonight... that's a careless safety from Trump, he's left the white on the baulk line... Murphy has turned down a red in favour of safety and what a good safety it is... with the potting prowess of Murphy, safety is a new aspect he's added to his game this season... an old head now on still young shoulder... this frame is very messy but it's also very important... who will take the lead at their final interval.. Murphy looks favourite, he's won the safety battle and can stretch his lead now... the balls are not sitting kindly so again Murphy has opted for a mean safety shot... he's putting some pressure on Trump at the moment... a good length with the safety from Trump, one more roll and the white would have dropped in the green pocket... another perfect safety from Murphy... but there's just a red sticking out and Trump didn't need any second invitation to pop that in... he's got the problem now of a very messy table... but he's finding some great shots to keep the break going and clip balls into pottable positions.. he's got a 10 point lead on the last red... he intended to put the white tight behind the black, it isn't but he's just covered the red... so a problem for Murphy to get this safe... a misjudgement from Murphy, he's hit the blue full ball... Murphy swerves this time and gets the red safe... but he's now 15 points behind... It's Murphy's turn to get the snooker and Judd's turn to miss it... and he's left a free ball, just 5 points the deficit for Murphy as he lines up the last red, which disappears, he should clinch the frame now... all square on the green, so Murphy needs up to the pink... a competent performance by Murphy and he'll be delighted to have withstood the early barrage by Trump... but he's missed the pink... it's not over yet... Judd's rattled it, trying to force an angle for the black... but he's not left it.... Trump's caught the pink far too thin but it's turned into a good safety by accident... It's very tense now, this frame is so vital... Trump's now tried to double it to the corner... is there nothing he doesn't take on... Murphy gratefully pots the pink and lead 7-6 at the interval... we can all go and get our breath back for 15 minutes....

... well here we go into the last frames... This match features on Our Road to Victory... who will take the next step... Judd's pushed a red over the corner with his safety so a nice easy starter for Shaun... he's forced to play safe with only 15 on the board... but there's a red for Judd to get started... Only eleven from the Trump cue, now what can Murphy do with this opening...  nothing at the moment and the balls are getting scrappy from the safety... Murphy is being very patient here and it could pay dividends... Judd's played a push shot there... and the safety battle continues.... a good one this time from Judd, he's got the white tight under the top rail and the reds are scattered around the table, very hard to get safe... and Judd hasn't got it safe now and a chance for Murphy... he's slowed his pace of play down from what we're used to seeing... he now leads 46-11 with four reds left... the yellow is useful insurance maybe for later in the frame for Murphy as it's tucked under the side rail... he's going to lead 8-6, a methodical 40 and counting...

... a bad safety error by Murphy as we start frame fifteen... There's a few open reds for Judd to tackle... he's made 18 and lost position.. Again the safety is sending the reds into all sorts of awkward positions and knocking the colours about... it's going to take more hard graft to accumulate points... Again Murphy has won the safety exchange and carved an opening for himself... it seems such a short time since Murphy was the young rookie at the Crucible, but he's the 'old head' in this match... Of course one can compare Judd now to when a 17 year old Stephen Hendry made his debut... I remember very similar comments about the young man's talent and his potential as a future champion... on that occasion he lost to the vastly experienced Willie Thorne, 10-8... well with the balls awkward Murphy is forced to run and hide with a 36-19 lead... a good safety from Trump though... Trump's picked out a stunning long red... but a groan from the crowd as he missed a dolly black... Murphy is pushing on to the line in this frame... and he's got the red he needed, it's going to be 9-6... Trump needs a snooker now on the last red...

... Even if he loses this match Trump will have improved his ranking to number 51, a rapid rise in just two season on the tour... Murphy's moved along to 22, he'd love to wrap up the match at this visit... Murphy's rattling through the balls here and playing very fluently... as the breaks reaches 54... he's just a few balls away from booking a second match against John Parrott... I've no doubt at all we'll be seeing Judd Trump back here for many years to come... he may have lost today, but he'll have a learned a lot and is a name to watch out for next season... you can enjoy our coverage of Stephen Maguire against Joe Perry and join us in the morning as Mark Williams starts his match against Joe Swail... that promises to be an entertaining match and probably a few jokes along the way as well...

FRAME SCORES

1. 81(81)-21

2. 131(96)-0

3. 64(52)-0

4. 15-74(45)

5. 0-79(49)

6. 73(73)-0

7. 37-106(93)

8. 86(49,31)-0

9. 22-78(57)

WINNER

FRAME SCORES

10. 14-56

11. 7-126(41,85)

12. 65(64)-1

13. 64-46

14. 65(40)-11

15. 69-20

16. 83(83)-0

17.

18.

19.

QUOTES

SHAUN MURPHY

"The only way I can explain how it feels to be in the first round and expected to win is like the first hurdle
in the Grand National when all the horses leg it and there’s a mad dash to get to the line – that’s what it’s
like to be a seed here and it’s just a mad dash to ten."

"There are a few more things at stake this week than just the World Championship. The world No 1 spot is
open to all the players with Dott going out and Doherty not in the best position in the world, it’s spurring
the rest of us on especially myself to try and make sure we can go as long as we can in the tournament."

"It’s a relief to beat Judd, he played well in patches, and he went for his shots. He reminded me of a young Jimmy White, when Jimmy made his debut here he casually walked around and potted all the balls and Judd reminded me of him. The amount of talent he showed me at times baffled me. "

"If I could give Judd one piece of advice it would be to just take a bit more time and when he runs out of position just go and have a look go to the other end of the table where he wouldn’t want to be and try and play that way. The first shot isn’t always the right one and although we are all competing he is the future of the sport and I hope it doesn’t take him as long to learn it as it took me. I expected him to have Crucible nerves so when I went out there and won the first three frames I thought he’s struggling a bit, but that was soon taken away and thrown back at me."

"We're here to win, but we're also here to entertain, I think the crowd like to see that human side of us and it was important to win that frame, so I punched the air because I was happy."

JUDD TRUMP

"It's completely different out there to anywhere I've ever played, it took me by surprise a little bit."

"I just tried to block the TV cameras out and my supporters really got behind me, but I think my safety
play let me down. I just slipped at the end and starting missing balls, but I'm happy with the way I played in patches."

"Hopefully I can learn from this experience and come back stronger if I qualify again."

"I played well, but I could have played better. My safety was a bit dodgy at times, it needs to be tighter if
I'm going to win matches like that."