Shock in Jeddah: Oliver Lines Stuns World No.1 Judd Trump in Saudi Masters Opener
Judd Trump’s defence of his Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters title ended abruptly in Jeddah on Tuesday, as he suffered a surprise 5-3 defeat to Oliver Lines in the opening round.
The world number one arrived in Saudi Arabia as the reigning champion, having lifted the trophy in Riyadh last year after an unforgettable 10-9 victory over Mark Williams, sealed on the final black in a dramatic decider. This time, however, Trump was unable to reproduce that magic, falling to the world number 68 in a match that defied pre-tournament expectations.
Lines had already battled his way through three qualifying matches to reach this stage, producing impressive wins over Liam Pullen, Matthew Selt, and Noppon Saengkham. Those victories, and the momentum they generated, clearly worked in his favour against Trump – a player he knows well and has often practiced with over the years.
Despite Lines’ good form, Trump entered the contest as the overwhelming favourite and looked set to justify that status when he comfortably took the opening frame. But the Yorkshireman responded in style, compiling a superb 125 break to level the score before taking control of the match. He claimed the next two frames to head into the mid-session interval with a 3-1 lead, signalling his confidence and sharpness at the table.
Trump tried to rally after the break, closing the gap, but Lines refused to relinquish his advantage. Showing composure beyond his ranking, he capitalised on every opportunity, eventually sealing the 5-3 victory to send the defending champion home early.
For Trump, the loss marks a disappointing start to the new season. For Lines, it’s a career-highlight win and a reminder that, in snooker, form and momentum can topple even the game’s biggest names.
