Every indication suggests that Judd Trump will go on to win the Sportsbet.io Players Championship following his stunning 6-3 quarter-final triumph over Mark Williams in Telford.
John Higgins waits in the wings first; certainly not an easy match, though his match against Williams produced some phenomenal snooker.
It was the 24th time both players have faced each other with some spectacular snooker played previously between the pair.
Each have beaten each other multiple times, particularly recent Crucible semi-finals with Trump winning 17-16 last year and Williams gaining a 17-14 victory in 2022.
Higgins Longevity Impressive
At 50 years old, Higgins continues to prove that he can perform at the very top and mix it with the best, while Trump is arguably in the best form he’s been in.
Known for his superior safety play, Higgins may approach the match with caution, though he recently admitted that he believes he’s playing better than ever.
Despite playing, he has also managed to balance this with punditry and commentary duties for Channel 5 which he claims has helped to relax him. It is understood that mental distraction of having the opportunity to analyse other player’s snooker games helps him to decompress and was a big factor towards his dismantling of Neil Robertson earlier in the tournament.
Trump will be looking to repeat his quarter-final masterclass meanwhile though will be well aware of what his opponent can do.
Although Trump is winning the head-to-head between the pair, he is in the middle of a bit of a “mini-jinx” against Higgins recently, who has claimed Trump is the natural successor to snooker supremo Ronnie O’Sullivan.
There is no doubting Trump’s aggression and speed which has helped him shock and awe over the years though Higgins is a clever and methodical tactician who definitely won’t make it easy for him.
Close Game In The Offing
Both players have scored heavily this week with Higgins having posted a 133 in the first round while Trump has a number of centuries under his belt.
The recent meetings between the two have yielded some impressive performances which have started cagey, though have been ultimately decided in the final four games so this is likely to be similar.
It means that the winner will face either Mark Selby, Mark Allen or Zhao Xintong in the final.
There is a significant amount of respect between the two which is good to see, with Trump having claimed Higgins is “favourite player of all time to play against”, having noted that against the “Wizard of Wishaw” you get a “proper game” with no gamesmanship but just high level tactical and potting excellence.
With Trump having a rare silverware drought in 2025, he will no doubt be targeting this competition to kick off his year in the perfect way, though Higgins definitely won’t make it easy for him. Of course, the World Championship will likely be a target and he could well be a favourite in the World Championship betting markets as well.
A win against Higgins will put Trump in his second final of the year, while very likely keeping him in the World Number One spot.
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