Masters 2025: “Losing is Not an Option,” says Judd Trump After Outclassing Ding Junhui

This afternoon at a sold-out Alexandra Palace, Judd Trump faced off against Ding Junhui in a rematch of this season's World Open final. Trump, the world number one, emerged victorious 10-4 in their last encounter, but the stakes were higher as the pair competed for a semi-final spot at the 2025 Masters, joining Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen in the lineup.

From the start, it was Ding who looked sharper, producing breaks of 70, 72, and 74 to race into a 3-1 lead by the mid-session interval. 

Yet, the momentum shifted dramatically as Trump, a player renowned for his resilience, found another gear. In the race to six frames, he displayed snooker perfection, reeling off five consecutive frames, including a brilliant 125-century break, to seal his seventh semi-final appearance of the season.

Trump’s Ruthless Streak

Even at 3-1 down, Trump’s confidence never wavered—a sentiment he expressed candidly after the match.

“Not really, no,” he admitted when asked if he felt under pressure during the early stages. 

“I just felt like for me to lose, I'd have to play badly, and I think I wasn't playing bad out there, I was just waiting for Ding to maybe miss. You are always going to miss a ball in a best of 11, and it's just whether your opponent can take that chance. And today I did.” 

Levels Above His Opponents

Trump’s dominance over the past two years has reignited discussions about the aura he brings to the table. 

While some players may feel daunted by his presence, Trump was quick to dismiss the idea that Ding was intimidated, attributing his victory to the level of snooker he produced.

“He [Ding] started off brilliantly, I think, so I don't think there was any kind of intimidation or anything like that,” Trump told SportsBoom.com. 

“I just think the level I'm able to sustain and just missing so little balls really, I think is just the difference. Those important clearances. I think when he missed the ball near the pocket with the rest, that was the turning point and that's just how high the standard is. He did probably do one thing wrong, and that was about it.”

Amongst the Best of All Time

Trump’s ability to capitalise on even the smallest errors has been a hallmark of his success, a skill he credits to studying the sport’s greats.

“Steve Davis did it, [Stephen] Hendry did it. Ronnie [O’Sullivan] does it. [John] Higgins does it. When you're in your absolute prime and you're feeling confident, you have to do it because the margin is so fine,” he explained.

“If he pots that and wins the frame, he could easily go on to win it, and we’re sat here saying Judd’s not playing quite as good as he was. The margins are so minimal.”

Record Breaking Prize Money

The victory was significant for more than just securing a semi-final spot—it also saw Trump break a snooker record. The £75,000 prize money pushed his season earnings to over £1,295,000, surpassing Ronnie O’Sullivan’s £1,265,500 record from last season. The introduction of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, where Trump claimed £500,000, played a pivotal role in this achievement. With the Masters title and the World Snooker Championship still to come, Trump has the potential to reach an unprecedented £2 million in a single season.

However, Trump emphasised that financial milestones aren’t his focus.

“It's not really a factor to me. It's not really something that I think about,” he said. 

“I think over the past few years, with the results I've had, it’s kind of taken care of itself. Now it’s all about the titles for me, and I think I'm not going to be happy unless I win this event. Losing is not really an option for me.”

Reflecting on the future, Trump noted that while prize money might provide comfort later in life, his current focus remains firmly on securing victories.

“At the end of my career, I hope that it will help me live a bit more comfortably, but at this moment in time, while I'm in the event, I want to stay hungry and look to lift the trophy.”

With the form Trump has displayed this season, few would bet against him doing just that.

He will now await the winner of the final quarterfinal clash between defending world champion Kyren Wilson and 2023 champion Luca Brecel to learn his next opponent.