There are moments when Judd Trump looks like an unstoppable train.
You can be forgiven for thinking that it might be the case again as he goes into this all-English European Masters final, but we shouldn’t forget that Stuart Bingham has history for bringing him back down to earth on the big stage.
Trump’s 6-1 demolition of Cao Yupeng in the semi-finals in Lommel marked a special performance – as he showed his firepower in its full glory.
After losing the opening frame, the world number four came storming back with breaks of 61, 100, 63, 87 and 115 to chalk up victory in just shy of 90 minutes.
It was a sizzling display and once again showed Trump’s almost unique ability to come out in big matches, put the pressure to the back of his mind and effortlessly produce a potting masterclass.On this occasion, it meant his place in the final was comfortably wrapped up in double-quick time. He was able to sit back and relax while his opponent Bingham was forced to scrap it out late into the night to defeat Zhou Yuelong 6-4 without ever replicating the form he produced to beat Luca Brecel and Mark Selby in the two previous rounds.
@Stuart__Bingham is through to face @judd147t in the final of the @888sport European Masters! #888EuroMasters
The incentives will be high in this final for Trump as it presents an opportunity for him to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career. His win a year ago in Bucharest remains one of his finest moments after he beat John Higgins, Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan in his final three matches to lift the title. Doing it again would be bitter sweet and another demonstration that he is now one of the game’s serial winners.
Just as he did a year ago, Trump has moved through the gears with ease this week and with his confidence on the up he’ll be a dangerous animal for Bingham to tame when they come out to the table in front of a packed European audience.
Trump as ever will want to put on a show and Bingham will be need to find a way not only to limit his chances but also to take his own when they come along.
While Saturday’s individual performances all point towards Trump being a resounding favourite to win the match, we shouldn’t forget that Bingham has produced his best performances of the season so far here and has done enough to suggest he can make a real fist of this clash.
This contest is reminiscent of the pair’s famous World Championship semi-final at The Crucible when Bingham beat Trump 17-16 before going on to lift the sport’s most prestigious title.
Bingham was an underdog then and if his performance then taught us anything it’s that he fears no one and will not be overawed by Trump’s boisterous power.
Similarly, Bingham beat Trump 9-8 when they met in the final of the Welsh Open earlier in 2017 and won’t be afraid to do the business again.
This final certainly isn’t one to be missed.
