Judd Trump delivered a masterclass at Alexandra Palace this afternoon, sweeping past Ding Junhui 6-2 to book his spot in the Masters quarter-finals.
The world number one was in brilliant form, rattling in three centuries during a dominant display against the 2011 champion.
It’s now five consecutive victories for Trump over Ding, having also beaten him by the same scoreline at the UK Championship last month.
The two-time Masters winner, who lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2023, is yet to claim any silverware this season but this performance suggests that drought won’t last much longer.
Judd Trump was in fine form on Wednesday afternoon
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Here’s the thing that’s got everyone talking though – every single match at this year’s Masters has finished 6-2. All seven of them.
Trump reckons he might know why.
“The table was playing unbelievably quick and reactive, so when you’re in among the ball it’s quite easy to score,” he told TNT Sports.
“I think the scorelines, 6-2, if you don’t adapt straight away it’s quite hard.”
He joked with the BBC that he’d convinced himself his match wouldn’t follow the pattern: “At 3-0 up I thought, ‘at least I can’t lose 6-2.'”
Ding Junhui was well beaten by Judd Trump
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Bookmakers Betfred calculated the odds of all seven matches ending with identical scorelines at a staggering 44,000/1.
Trump’s break-building was simply sensational throughout the afternoon.
After edging a tense opening frame 63-50 following a lengthy safety battle, he found his rhythm with a superb 116, then added 69 to race into a commanding 3-0 lead.
Ding showed his class by fighting back to 3-2, including winning frame five from 54 points behind, but Trump was relentless.
A solid 88 restored his two-frame cushion before he produced a stunning 117 to move within touching distance of victory.
He then wrapped things up in style with a brilliant 109, capitalising after Ding went in-off attempting to cut a red.
Judd Trump has warned his rivals he means business this year
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Trump now faces Mark Allen in the last eight on Thursday evening, with the match scheduled for 7pm.
The Englishman has been based in Dubai and chose to skip both the Shoot Out and Scottish Open after losing the UK Championship final to Mark Selby in December.
Judd Trump continues the 6-2 trend, beating Ding Junhui with a hat-trick of centuries to progress into the last eight 👏 pic.twitter.com/goZ2w1kxl4
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 14, 2026
Asked whether his selective schedule is paying off, he said: “When you perform like that it must be right, I think. Over the last few years I just struggle to turn up to every single event now, it’s becoming harder.”
He added: “I feel fresher and when I’m at the events I feel more hungry and determined to do well.”
