Judd Trump relishes Masters semi-final clash with 'favourite' opponent John Higgins after 'scrappy' win over 'slow' Mark Allen
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By Ben Grounds
Published 16/01/2026 at 11:42 GMT
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Judd Trump produced a dominant post-interval surge to defeat Mark Allen 6-2 in his Masters quarter-final, reeling off four straight frames to seal victory, potting fluently and asserting himself in the safety exchanges to book a meeting with John Higgins in the last four. The world No. 1 will take nothing for granted as he prepares to face the Masters’ oldest semi-finalist since Eddie Charlton.
'My favourite player to play against' - Trump in awe of 'gentleman' Higgins
Video credit: TNT Sports
World No. 1 Judd Trump is relishing his 2026 Johnstone's Paint Masters semi-final clash with John Higgins, claiming the veteran is his "favourite opponent" ahead of his first final four appearance since 2021.
Higgins is making a record-extending 32nd consecutive outing at the Masters, with Trump now standing in his way of reaching the final. Thirty-three is the total number of ranking titles Higgins has won in his career, a milestone he reached by winning the 2025 Tour Championship.
Having beaten Barry Hawkins 6-2 in the first round, the 50-year-old overcame world champion Zhao Xintong 6-5 in a thrilling quarter-final match that was not without its slice of good fortune, with Higgins admitting afterwards that he "butchered" a plant in the penultimate frame only to fluke a ball.
Third on the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind only Ronnie O'Sullivan (41) and Stephen Hendry (36), Trump is only too aware of the threat world No. 5 Higgins poses and will be taking nothing for granted as he prepares to face the Masters' oldest semi-finalist since Eddie Charlton in 1983. Â
"It was an important game as I knew John won earlier, and I've got a good record against him recently," Trump told TNT Sports following his 6-2 win over Mark Allen.
"I watched bits of his final frame against Zhao Xintong [in the quarter-finals], and to be fair, he's had a few tough losses recently, so he was probably due a good one [referencing the slice of luck].
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'Suddenly the game is so easy' - Trump finishes with exhibition shots in win over Allen
Video credit: TNT Sports
"John has been a tale of two halves. I think the first five or 10 years, he was beating me 5-4, 6-5 every time. He was making those important clearances, but the last 10 years have been somewhat the opposite. He's been my favourite player to play against.
"He's the ultimate test, and the manner in which he plays is amazing. He's also a gentleman out there, so it feels like you get a proper game against him. There's nothing else going on, no tactics or anything like that.
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"I'm glad he's had a bit of a resurgence in the last year or two because there was a spell where it looked like he was dropping down a little bit, but he's come back brilliantly. To still be doing it on this stage, at 50, is incredible.
"I enjoy playing him as with Xintong, you don't really know what you're going to get. I could play badly, he could play unbelievably, so with John he's got that steady level he's going to play at, and I know I'm going to have to be at my absolute best to stand a chance."
Trump: I struggled to find my rhythm against 'slow' Allen
Following Higgins' victory, Trump prevailed over Allen in a contest that never quite caught fire but ultimately turned on a decisive swing of momentum.
Neither player produced their best snooker in a tense, attritional match marked by long tactical exchanges and missed opportunities.
Allen appeared the more settled early on, compiling breaks of 69 and 76 to reach the mid-session interval level at 2-2. At that stage, the world No. 10 - who boasts a favourable head-to-head record against Trump - had arguably shaded proceedings.
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'Felt like I had him' - Allen rues missed chances in loss to 'great champion' Trump
Video credit: TNT Sports
The match pivoted early in the second session. Allen spurned a mid-range red to the right corner that would have secured the fifth frame, and Trump seized the opening. Having managed no break higher than 35 until then, the Englishman responded with a nerveless half-century clearance to steal the frame by a single point and wrest control of the contest.
From there, Trump's authority grew. A break of 70 in the following frame was backed up by a run of 68 as he reeled off four frames in succession, booking his place in an eighth Masters semi-final, where he will face an opponent he has twice met in Crucible finals.
Reflecting on the performance, Trump admitted the struggle was familiar territory against Allen. He said: "I always struggle against him compared to the other top 16 players - I don't know why, but I play terribly normally. It was the same again - I missed balls I never, ever miss, and I struggled a little bit with the table.
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'That is OUTRAGEOUS!' - Higgins had the luck behind him against Zhao
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The white was a little bit light, and that meant my positional play was all over the place, which made it hard - but the turning point was the fifth frame when he missed a straight ball, which I didn't expect, and then I made a good clearance.
"After that, miss, as a top player, you know you then have to clear up. The table is playing tricky, and the pockets are tight, so it was important I finished up on that last red, but even then, I felt there was no rhythm today.
"It was all a bit scrappy, but the frame to go 3-2 up changed the momentum of the game. After that, I got stronger, and he made a few little mistakes.
"The rest of the top 16 I know are going to score heavy. Mark misses a few balls, and I don't like that because I sometimes think I can play badly and get away with it. The other players, I know I have to play unbelievable snooker.
"Mark recently has been quite slow, so I didn't know what to expect. Sometimes I try too hard against him because I don't want the balls to get messed up and to prolong that game. Sometimes, I try too hard against him."
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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