Masters 2014: Judd Trump loses to Marco Fu in first round
- Published
Former world number one Judd Trump was knocked out in the first round of the Masters on Monday, losing 6-5 to Marco Fu.
After winning the first frame, Fu twice fought back and led 5-4 after nine frames before Englishman Trump forced an 11th-frame decider.
But Fu, of Hong Kong, kept his nerve to produce a cool break of 78 and ensure his passage into the last eight.
Scotland's Stephen Maguire survived a late Joe Perry fightback to win 6-4.
Fu is competing in the Masters for the first time since 2011, when he lost 10-4 to Ding Junhui, external of China in the final.
He showed great resilience in this absorbing encounter, having trailed 4-3 before winning the next two frames to move within one of victory.
But a 101 break from Trump ensured a final-frame decider and the world number four led 12-0 before failing to pot a tricky black, allowing Fu to take control and secure the win.
"It was a bit scrappy, but I played well in patches," Fu said. "I felt pretty good among the balls to win the final frame.
"I expected it to be a deciding frame. I've lost four or five matches on the deciding frame so it is nice to win one in the Masters. It was difficult to get away from Judd in the end."
Trump said: "I've gone out early in all the big ones which is very disappointing. There is only the World Championship left, but all the tournaments now are worth winning especially the German Masters next month."
Two-time semi-finalist Maguire, meanwhile, made an impressive start with breaks of 112 and 80 to take the first two frames before England's Perry halved the deficit with a run of 78.
Maguire reeled off the next three frames to move within one of victory, but Perry then set up a tense finish by winning three in succession himself - including a break of 106 to move him within one of the Scot.
The comeback ended there, however, as Maguire eventually grasped the initiative in the 10th frame before holding his nerve to clinch the match.
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