‘My lucky day’ – Judd Trump misses sitter to gift Cao Yupeng spot in Championship League snooker final group stage

Judd Trump blew a golden chance to reach the Championship League final group stage as a bad miss on a red saw him lose out to Cao Yupeng in agonising fashion in Leicester.

Needing a victory over Joe Perry to top Group B and progress to the closing day of the season’s first ranking event, the Masters champion led Joe Perry 2-1 after opening with a century, but trailed 36-44 as he lined up a straightforward pot on the penultimate red of the fourth frame.

WIth all the balls there for taking, he appeared to cue across the white as the object ball rattled the jaws of a top pocket, enabling Perry to step in and clear up to salvage a draw from 2-0 behind.

Former Scottish Open finalist Cao, watching from the sidelines, was the real winner as the draw saw him edge out Trump on frame difference after he earlier completed a 3-0 win over Perry before drawing 2-2 with Trump and two-time world finalist Matthew Stevens, respectively,

“I tried to make myself play quickly and I was more relaxed out there, I managed to put some good breaks together.

“I was surprised when Judd missed the red. I feel today may well be my lucky day. It would be a dream to win a ranking event. I want to get a title. I’ve never done it before and I hope this is my season.”

World No. 53 Sam Craigie ran out the winner of Group G courtesy of a 3-0 victory against Michaei White, a 2-2 draw with Zehuang Long and a 3-1 win over World Championship quarter-finalist Jak Jones.

Cao and Craigie join Noppon Saengkham and Mark Williams in Group B on Friday, while Chris Wakelin, Robert Milkins, Shaun Murphy and Xiao Guodong will contest Group A.

The winners of the final groups contest the Championship League final, the season’s first ranking event, on Friday evening.

The tournament carries total prize money of £328,000, with the winner also guaranteed a spot in the elite 16-player Champion of Champions event in Bolton in November.

• Chris Wakelin
• Robert Milkins
• Shaun Murphy
• Xiao Guodong

• Cao Yupeng
• Mark Williams
• Sam Craigie
• Noppon Saengkham