This was perhaps best illustrated during the 2022 World Snooker Championship quarter-final clash between Judd Trump and Stuart Bingham. Bingham had the upper hand early on, quickly establishing an 8-3 lead.
But Trump soon found his rhythm, fighting back to level the match at 8-8 by the mid-session interval.
Yet it wasnโt Trumpโs comeback that stole the spotlight at the Crucible.
Rather, a comical and unforgettable incident occurred in the 15th frame. Trump found himself in a tricky position after accidentally snookering himself when the cue ball came to rest near the pink.
This blocked his path to the brown, putting him in a tough spot. As he considered his options, a fan in the audience coughed.
When the same fan coughed again, Trump saw an opportunity. Drawing the attention of referee Ben Williams, he gestured toward the coughing spectator. While Williams was momentarily distracted, Trump cheekily nudged the pink ball out of the way to clear his path to the brown.
Although he missed the pot, his antics had both the crowd and Eurosport commentator David Hendon laughing.
“Fantastic,” Hendon remarked.
“Ben Williams totally bought it, didnโt he?
“‘Look away, Iโll just move the pink.’
“Things might just be swinging Trumpโs way heโs clearly enjoying himself now.” If Trumpโs aim was to unsettle both Bingham and the referee, it may have worked.
His incredible resurgence continued as he won 10 straight frames to triumph 13-8.
Trump then edged past Mark Williams 17-16 in a nail-biting semi-final but narrowly missed out on a second world title, losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final.
Be the first to comment