Rookie Trump on top in world snooker final

The 21-year-old races away to 10-7 at the halfway mark of the 35-frame final with Higgins showing signs of pressure.

SHEFFIELD // Judd Trump, the English qualifier, led three-time champion John Higgins 10-7 after the first day of the world championship final at the Crucible on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Trump had raced away from 7-7 in the best-of-35-frame final which concludes today.

Adding to Higgins' frustrations, he was fined £250 (Dh1500) for conceding the 16th frame with enough points left on the table to force a respotted black.

The pair had been locked level at 4-4 at the end of the afternoon session, the highlight of which was provided by Trump's 102 break in the sixth frame.

Trump then dropped 5-4 behind after the opening frame of the evening session when Higgins had a break of 60.

But he had breaks of 55 and 58 to lead 6-5 and turned on the style in frame 12 on his way to a break of 103 and a two-frame lead.

Higgins came back to 7-6, and levelled after a scrappy frame. Trump had a 49 break to lead 49-18 at 7-7, and although he broke down there, a further run of 28 made the frame safe.

A touch of controversy came when Higgins conceded when 51 behind with 51 remaining on the table in the 16th frame.

That is against the usual etiquette, costing him money, and it suited Trump as he gained a two-frame lead.

Higgins led 36-0 in the final frame of the evening but missed a black and Trump replied with 45 before running stray of position. He soon had another chance though, and was at his punishing best, to the delight of the crowd.