World Snooker Championship 2024: Judd Trump through to round two in Sheffield

Judd Trump advanced to the last 16 of the 2024 World Snooker Championship following a comfortable 10-5 victory against qualifier Hossein Vafaei in round one.

The winner of snooker’s blue riband event five years ago, 34-year-old Trump remained focused and was in fine form throughout most of his tricky opening round assignment at the Crucible Theatre. The world number two is the second favourite for this year’s world crown having won five ranking titles and appeared in eight tournament finals in total throughout an amazing 2023/24 season.

During their entertaining opening session on Saturday afternoon, a tally of ten breaks over 50 were made in just nine frames. A clinical Trump produced multiple counter-attacking contributions as he took control at 6-2, although former ranking event champion Vafaei - who registered a 138 total clearance a few frames earlier - compiled a crucial 74 in the final frame to stay in touch at three behind.

Iran’s number one reduced the gap to only two frames when he claimed the first of the concluding session, but a very matchplay savvy Trump impressed with fantastic shotmaking as he took the next three to move 9-4 up and one away from the finish line. World number 19 Vafaei did have a chance to pinch frame 13 but he failed to convert when fluffing a simple red having swapped hands to play it.

Both players missed opportunities to win frame 14, but it was Vafaei who prolonged the match after doubling the final pink the length of the table before slotting home the black. However, Trump - mildly annoyed not to have got the job done sooner - completed the win in the next.

It is the 28-time ranking event winner’s second triumph over Vafaei on this stage; two years ago in the same round, Trump denied him 10-4 on his Crucible debut.

Next up for ‘The Ace in the Pack’ will be either Tom Ford or Ricky Walden.