Triple strike! Snooker Masters: World No.1 eliminated, 51-year-old veteran stages comeback, Wu Yize reaches match point

On January 18th Beijing time, the first semifinal of the Snooker Masters was underway. A high-profile clash just concluded between two world superstars, Trump and Higgins. After a tough 11-frame battle, the evergreen Higgins overturned Trump 6-5 to reach the final, knocking out the world number one. At 51, Higgins is truly formidable!

Trump is ranked world number one, with numerous minor ranking titles but fewer major championships; his best this season is a runner-up finish in ranking events. He cruised past Ding Junhui and Mark Allen in the first two rounds to reach the semifinals. His opponent, 51-year-old veteran Higgins, the last of the 'Class of ’75', showed incredible resilience, narrowly defeating Chinese player Zhao Xintong 6-5 in the quarterfinals. Now, Trump and Higgins face off in a thrilling peak showdown full of suspense!

The match began with Trump quickly finding his rhythm, dominating both defense and attack to take the first three frames 3-0. In the fourth frame, Higgins seized his chance and won a tight 62-48 frame to stop the bleeding. Higgins then made a century break in the fifth to narrow it to 2-3. Trump responded with a 70-point break in the sixth to lead 4-2. Higgins immediately fought back with a 57-point break to claim the seventh frame, making it 3-4. In the eighth, Trump scored 57 points to edge a nail-biting 63-62 frame and reach match point at 5-3. Higgins chipped away in the ninth to close to 4-5. In the tenth, Higgins showcased his skill with a 70-point break to level at 5-5. In the deciding frame, Trump made a mistake with his right hand, allowing Higgins to take it with a 57-point break, completing a 6-5 comeback and an incredible last-gasp win — truly astonishing!

Higgins’ performance is simply remarkable. At 51, his level remains extremely high. He came from 3-5 behind twice in a row to win three consecutive frames against Zhao Xintong and Trump, demonstrating admirable composure and grit. In contrast, Trump struggles in majors. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Wu Yize recovered from 2-4 down to lead 5-4 and reach match point, showing strong promise to make the final. Let’s wait and see!

Written by / Sports Fiction