Masters Snooker 2016 Results: Updated Draw and Schedule After Friday's Scores
Judd Trump and Neil Robertson served up a stunning match at the 2016 Masters Snooker on Friday, with the former eventually advancing after a 6-5 win. The match featured the two highest breaks of the tournament and six centuries, including one in the decider.
Robertson played a great match but made one key mistake, while Trump's long potting was flawless throughout the afternoon.
World Champion Stuart Bingham booked his first-ever Masters semi-final spot during the evening session, beating John Higgins 6-3.
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Here's a look at Friday's scores and the updated schedule for the 2016 Masters:
| Neil Robertson | 5-6 | Judd Trump |
| John Higgins | 3-6 | Stuart Bingham |
| Barry Hawinks | 1 p.m. GMT/8 a.m. ET | Judd Trump |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | 7 p.m. GMT/2 p.m. ET | Stuart Bingham |
Judd Trump 6-5 Neil Robertson
Friday's afternoon session promised to be a quick one, with two of the world's top technicians going at it at the Alexandra Palace in London. Fans of long potting and explosive breaks were in for a treat, as Robertson and Trump lived up to their reputations.
Juddernaut got the match off to a fast pace, scoring 188 in the first two frames combined and bagging a century in the second to grab a quick 2-0 lead. But the Thunder from Down Under hit back immediately, playing some smart safeties to win the third frame before exploding for a 139 break in the fourth.
World Snooker shared footage of the final shots, as Robertson set the new high break of the tournament―briefly:
Not to be outdone, Trump reclaimed the lead with a 105 break and took the sixth frame as well after a huge mistake from Robertson. The Australian nearly forfeited the frame and was forced to watch as Trump landed a 78 break to move ahead by two.
But a short stoppage in play seemed to clear Robertson's head, and he quickly moved back on level terms with another century and some excellent safety play.
In keeping with the high standard, Trump once again grabbed the lead with another superb break, making a 140 to beat the mark set by his opponent earlier in the match, per BBC Snooker:
Robertson forced a deciding frame with a smart 78 break, but in the final frame, Trump made a key pot toward the side pocket to start his break. He found a good angle on the blue to split the pack and had some luck a few shots later, with the ball rattling the jaws before dropping, but Trump kept his calm to put away the match.
Per World Snooker, he acknowledged Robertson pushed him to the limit:
When Trump can play carefree snooker, he's incredibly hard to beat, although concentration can be an issue for the youngster. His form was nearly flawless in the win over Robertson, although he nearly made the type of costly mistake he simply can't make against someone like Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final frame.
Stuart Bingham 6-3 John Higgins
The battle between Bingham and Higgins was always going to be a more tactical one, and that became clear from the very first frame. The table was set nicely for Higgins to put together a high break, but a crucial miss allowed he World Champion to come in and clear, making the winning shot on pink.
World Snooker shared footage of the clearance:
Higgins hit back with a break of 60 to take the second frame by 119, before Bingham enjoyed his first extended look at the table in the third.
But that's when the match became a bit sloppy. Bingham looked far from his best on Friday, but Higgins in particular missed a couple of key shots you would expect him to make. Leading by 45 in the fifth, he practically gifted Bingham the frame, with the latter clearing 83, and another poor miss on a relatively simple brown allowed Bingham to win the next frame, taking it on pink.
Luck wasn't exactly on Higgins' side, evidenced by an error on white while he tried to escape a snooker. All momentum seemed to leave the Wizard of Wishaw, who overran the white with the table begging in the seventh frame, and proceeded to play a poor safety as well.
Professional snooker player Matthew Selt didn't mince his words:
Higgins tried everything, including an ill-advised plant, but all he did was leave a shot for Bingham, who converted and built another break to take the frame and move within one of a semi-final spot.
Hawkins took advantage of another poor shot from Higgins to start the eighth frame, but the World Champion missed a routine red while trying to split the pack, handing Higgins a lifeline. He proceeded to score the first century of the match, reducing the lead to just two frames heading into the break.
The ninth frame provided plenty of drama early, with Bingham narrowly avoiding an accidental pot and Higgins potting the white, as safety play dominated the early stages. Bingham's good fortune played its part a final time, as he fluked a red on an attempted safety, allowing him to grab a 53-point lead.
Higgins had a final chance and immediately took on a difficult long pot, missing by inches. Bingham's lead grew to the point Higgins needed snookers, and while the former champion briefly tried his luck, he eventually relented.
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