Phil Haigh
Published January 14, 2026 5:19pm
Updated January 15, 2026 12:04am
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Judd Trump made a superb start to his challenge for a third Masters title (Picture: Getty Images)
Eight games into the Masters and every single match has ended in the same 6-2 result, with Judd Trump suggesting a reason why.
Wu Yize opened the tournament at Alexandra Palace with a 6-2 victory over defending champion Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson’s 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin on Wednesday afternoon made it seven on the spin.
Given it is only the world’s top 16 players in the event, so you would expect them to be evenly matched, so many one-sided results is very surprising, never mind them all being identical.
Trump was in fine form as he beat Ding Junhui in north London on Wednesday afternoon, knocking in three centuries along the way.
Asked about the bizarre run of 6-2 results, he told the BBC: ‘I convinced myself my game would not be 6-2 and at 3-0 up I thought, “at least I can’t lose 6-2.”‘
‘It’s incredible really because all the players are so closely matched and to have every single game go that way is so surprising.’
He added on TNT Sports: ‘I’m happy to win 6-2. It’s crazy because the standard is so even nowadays, to have every single game 6-2 is very strange.’
Trump sets up a quarter-final clash with Mark Allen (Picture: Getty Images)
Betfred’s Mark Pearson posted on X that the odds of all eight matches to finish 6-2 were 220,000/1 and all the correct scores and winners would have come in at 20,000,000/1.
Having watched on since Sunday and then finally got on the baize on Wednesday, Trump has suggested that the one-sided results may have been down to the lightning fast conditions and players strugglingto adapt to them.
‘The table was playing unbelievably quick and reactive, so when you’re in among the ball it’s quite easy to score,’ he told TNT.
Masters first round results
Shaun Murphy 2-6 Wu Yize
Mark Selby 2-6 Xiao Guodong
Mark Williams 2-6 Mark Allen
Zhao Xintong 6-2 Gary Wilson
Kyren Wilson looked good in his opening win over Si Jiahui (Picture: Getty Images)
Kyren Wilson 6-2 Si Jiahui
John Higgins 6-2 Barry Hawkins
Judd Trump 6-2 Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson 6-2 Chris Wakelin
‘I think the scorelines, 6-2, if you don’t adapt straight away it’s quite hard. I thought there might be a reason, the table is very quick, if you’re not flying then it’s quite difficult out there.
‘Ding didn’t do a lot wrong, I played really, really well. I’m happy with that.’
Trump is looking to win the Masters for a third time and start the year with a title after going the whole of 2025 without lifting a trophy.
‘Last year [season] I won quite a few big events,’ said the world number one. ‘Before I was winning events which I thought were big but everyone was saying they were small, then when someone else wins it they’re big. So you can’t have it all.
‘I feel like I’ve achieved what I want to achieve, now it’s time to peak a bit more for the real big events. In my eyes I just love winning so it’s hard to distinguish which is a big event and which isn’t, they’re all big to me.’
Trump lost 10-8 to Mark Selby in the UK Championship final (Picture: Getty Images)
This is Trump’s first since the UK Championship final which he lost 10-8 to Mark Selby on December 7, choosing not to play the Shoot Out or Scottish Open.
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Asked if he feels his schedule is working for him from his home in Dubai, he said: ‘When you perform like that it must be right, I think.
‘It’s hard to get that perfect schedule. But over the last few years I just struggle to turn up to every single event now, it’s becoming harder.
‘Being in Dubai to fly there and back all the time is a bit mor tricky than being in the UK. I feel fresher and when I’m at the events I feel more hungry and determined to do well.’
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Masters quarter-final line-up
Thursday January 15
1pm: John Higgins vs Zhao Xintong
7pm: Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
Friday January 16
1pm: Wu Yize vs Xiao Guodong
7pm: Neil Robertson vs Kyren Wilson
Arrow MORE: Neil Robertson reveals Ronnie O’Sullivan message which left lasting impact on him
Arrow MORE: Kyren Wilson confident cue chaos is over after UK Championship ‘hissy fit’
Arrow MORE: Mark Allen ‘might have needed nappy’ but survived illness during Masters win
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