Judd Trump sees worrying signs for his rivals with Shanghai Masters win

Judd Trump can see a return to his relentless winning ways after starting the season in perfect fashion with the Shanghai Masters title.

The world number one produced a great run to the final, beating Barry Hawkins 6-4, hammering John Higgins 6-0 and downing world champion Wu Yize 10-6.

That set up a showpiece against Kyren Wilson on Sunday where he rode his luck a little at times, but overcame trickier conditions than the rest of the week to win 11-6.

Trump has now already matched his title tally from last season, when his one piece of silverware came at the German Masters, in a relatively quiet campaign by his very high standards.

The 36-year-old won the Shanghai Masters once before, in 2024 when he went on to land two huge titles at the UK Championship and Saudi Arabia Masters.

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He reckons this is the perfect way to boost his confidence after an underwhelming end to the last season and the ideal platform for a better campaign to come.

‘I think the last time I won Shanghai I had a great season after that,’ he told WST. ‘You need to be winning events like this to test yourself against the best but it also gives you the most confidence as well.

‘I think if I am to have a great season it was important I got off to a good start. I’ve done that now I just need to do the rest.’

Trump’s battering of Higgins in the last 16 will live long in the memory as he made breaks of 97, 60, 53, 152, 128 and 102 and the legendary Scot failed to score a point in five of the six frames.

The final wasn’t that kind of performance as Trump managed six half-centuries and a high break of 82, but he was pleased that he could win in other ways than just blasting his opponent off the table.

He was also thrilled to beat his rival Wilson, who enjoyed his 2024/25 season against Trump, beating him in three finals and a Masters semi.

‘It was a good win, it was a tough game compared to the other ones,’ said Trump. ‘The other ones I was in full flow. The table played a bit more difficult in the final and that’s why the standard maybe wasn’t quite as good.

‘Any win against him is good for me because he’s beaten me in the last few finals. So it was nice to start the season in that kind of manner and get one over him.’

Next up for Trump will be the China Open which starts on Saturday, with the world number one starting his campaign on Sunday against Noppon Saengkham.

He is using slightly different equipment this season and feels it has already had the impact he desired.

‘I’ve put a lot of work in on the practice table, with new tips that I’m trying to get used to. Vortex Tips,’ he said. ‘I’ve been spending the off-season trying to get more spin because when you come to Shanghai it’s a bit heavier and trickier to get the feel of the table.

‘It seemed to be paying off, in the first few games. I played as good as I have done for a while.’

As for Wilson, he made a great effort at defending the title he won last year, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong before falling short against Trump.

The sixth frame will probably still be bothering him as he missed an easy ball on 66 to go 3-3, allowing Trump to step in and make 67 to pinch the frame, before opening up a 7-3 lead after the first session.

‘It should really have been 5-5 after the first session,’ he said. That is how good Judd Trump is. If you give him a chance he will punish you and when he smells blood he goes for the kill.

‘I made it too difficult tonight, but I kept fighting.’