Judd Trump candid after shock loss to superb Elliot Slessor in last 16 of English Open - 'He's tough to stop'
Published 18/09/2025 at 18:44 GMT+1
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Judd Trump was full of praise for Elliot Slessor after the underdog claimed a 4-3 win in their last-16 clash at the English Open in Brentwood on Thursday. Slessor won the final two frames of the contest to book his spot in the quarter-finals. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the English Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'What a beauty' - Slessor sinks stunning long red against Trump
Video credit: TNT Sports
Elliot Slessor caused a huge shock in the last 16 of the English Open as he got the better of world No. 1 Judd Trump.
After leading 2-0, Slessor saw Trump reel off three frames on the spin to get to the brink of victory.
World No. 23 Slessor has wilted when faced with similar situations in previous seasons, but the Gateshead potter has spoken about working on the mental side of the game with coach Chris Henry.
"I started working with Chris Henry probably a season-and-a-half ago," Slessor said earlier this year.
"We’ve patched up some of the difficulties I had in my game, so to speak. That’s just coming into fruition now, I would say.
"At times it [mental approach] has held me back. I am liable to just blow a gasket. Don’t get us wrong, I’m not the greatest now but I’m a hell of a lot better than I used to be. If I can get that to a decent state then I’ll be delighted."
Faced with needing to take the final two frames against a winner of 30 ranking titles, Slessor steeled himself to produce breaks of 79 and 64 to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
Trump was not at his brilliant best, but praised Slessor for getting the job done.
"I did not do too much wrong," Trump told TNT Sports. "He played really well.
"He has always had the determination; it was about maybe putting all the pieces in the right places.Â
"Sometimes I think he struggled with his attitude to the game but when he’s calm and looking like that and determined, he is tough to stop."
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Trump arrived at the Brentwood Centre in Essex armed with a new cue, and he said he would be heading to the practice tables prior to the British Open which takes place in Cheltenham next week.
"I will try and practice as much as I can and get ready for the next event," Trump said.
Slessor can now look forward to a meeting with Mark Allen or Ding Junhui in the last eight on Friday, having changed tempo with his back to the wall against Trump.
"He got back in the game and it was all him for a few frames," Slessor told TNT Sports. "I knew I needed to get the momentum back.
"I played a little bit quicker and potted a good red at the start of the sixth frame and got a bit of rhythm and a bit of rolling from there."
Slessor has been battling illness this week, but is hopeful he has turned a corner.
"I am feeling a little bit better," he said. "I’m still taking painkillers and still getting the headaches, but I am getting better day by day.
"I played Jimmy Robertson in the first round and I was bad for that, but I am feeling a little bit better each day."
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the English Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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