Zhao Beats Trump To Complete Players Series Slam
Zhao Xintong boldened his status as the best player in the world on current form as he thrashed Judd Trump 10-3 in the final of the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship, becoming the first man to win all three events in the Players Series in the same season.
China’s Zhao was imperious all week in Manchester, conceding just eight frames on his way to the title as he showcased his tremendous long potting and seemingly effortless break-building. He beat Chris Wakelin 10-4 before dismantling John Higgins 10-1 – the heaviest defeat of Higgins’ career – then comfortably saw off an out-of-sorts Trump. A fierce battle was expected today between the World Champion and world number one, but it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Zhao pulled away from 5-3 to win the last five frames in the evening session.
Trump admitted: “Over the last two months Zhao has been the best player in the world. I always enjoy the challenge, it’s up to me to go away and try to improve.”
After a relatively quiet first half to this season, highlighted only by winning the invitational Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in November, in recent weeks 29-year-old Zhao has recaptured the form which made him the first Asian to conquer the Crucible last Spring. In February he won both the World Grand Prix and Players Championship, and he has now completed an unprecedented hat-trick of Players Series titles.
The top prize of £150,000 takes Zhao’s prize money for this season past the £1 million mark, and he climbs to a career high of fourth in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings. He could even take over as world number one in Sheffield, albeit only if he lands the £500,000 jackpot and Trump goes out in the first round.
Zhao has now won his first six ranking finals – previously only achieved by Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson – and on the all-time list he is now level with Ken Doherty, Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter. The left-hander becomes the 12th player to win three ranking titles in a single season, and surely now heads to the Crucible as the clear favourite.
Trump misses out on a 32nd ranking title, which would have brought him within one of Higgins in fourth place on the all-time list, and has now lost 22 ranking finals. He has landed the German Masters crown this season, but the 36-year-old has finished second best at the Northern Ireland Open, Champion of Champions, UK Championship and now this event in Manchester, where he had never previously reached the final.
