SNOOKER: Joe trumps Judd in last-frame decider to reach quarter-final

Joe Perry has reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open.

The Chatteris cueman played on table one for the first time this week and edged past world number six Judd Trump 4-3 in a topsy-turvy encounter at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

At 3-2 up, Trump had two glorious opportunities to seal victory on the final black after an earlier routine miss from Perry, only for the 41-year-old to pinch the frame and win the decider, leaving him with a sense of relief.

“I’m not one for first-pumping because I know what it’s like to get beaten out there in close matches and it’s not nice when someone gives a fist-pump,” said Perry. “But inside I was fist-pumping and I’m delighted.

“It was good to finally get under the TV lights because I don’t care what anyone says, it is definitely different.

“I know the very top players have earned the right to play on the TV table all the time, but it definitely is an advantage.”

Next up for Perry is a match against last year’s losing finalist Ben Woollaston this evening (February 19), with a place in the semi-finals on the line.

That clash will be a best-of-nine rather than best-of-seven and the world No.10 is relishing that change.

“I’m looking to having an interval more than anything, looking forward to getting a cup of tea at half-time! It will be nice to play a longer match,” added Perry.

“Ben is a tough, gritty campaigner though – he got to the final last year and obviously feels comfortable at the venue, so I’ll have to be on my game again.”

Perry trailled Trump three times before clinching the final frame with a cool 55 break. Perry came back from 56-0 down to take the second frame with a run of 70.

Perry looked on his way out in frame six after missing an easy black which would have won him the frame, but Trump failed to find position on the final black and after a long exchange it was Perry who found a decenr pot to take the match into a decider.

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