In an enthralling final at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, the narrowest of margins decided the victor, with Judd Trump admitting that he did not deserve to clinch the £500,000 prize against Mark Williams. The Welshman had led the final frame 62-0 but couldn’t pot the first of two balls needed to seal the win, allowing Trump to make a perfect comeback and claim the deciding frame after trailing 9-8.

A stunned Trump acknowledged Williams as the “much better player” in their intense 19-frame battle. Reflecting on his victory, Trump mentioned that he “stopped breathing” as the thrilling match reached its climax, overcoming deficits in both his opening match and the final to secure the title.

Despite being behind for much of the match, Williams was ahead entering the final two frames and needed just two more balls in the 19th frame to win. Unfortunately, he was denied by the jaws of the pocket, and Trump capitalized on the opportunity.

“I’m in shock, I struggled,” Trump admitted. “Mark was much the better player. His long potting, I’ve never ever seen anyone pot like that over that distance, every single shot went in, just unbelievable. He was making breaks from nowhere, the table was just playing tricky and I don’t deserve to win. It’s not going to mean anything to him but he was the much better player, I just found something at the end.”

In a surprising turn of events, Trump had been 4-0 down and even contemplated booking flights back to the UK. However, he fought back to secure the win in a dramatic finish, punching the air in celebration after sinking the final ball. Reflecting on his emotional reaction, Trump noted, “I’m normally someone that’s quite calm, I don’t show much emotion but it was just one of those instances where my fist had a mind of its own.”

Meanwhile, Williams, despite showcasing his skills and nearly sealing the victory, had to settle for second place and the £200,000 prize. He described the game as fantastic and lamented the missed opportunity in the final frame. “It wasn’t as if I twitched or anything, I hit it good, I thought it was in,” Williams said.

The Riyadh crowd was treated to a spectacle of brilliant snooker as both players saved their best for last, showcasing their talent and resilience in an unforgettable final showdown.