In one of the last matches of the last 16, Judd Trump and Ding Junhui will face each other. In this format, isolated bursts of form matter less than controlling the match over the distance.
Judd Trump
This season cannot be called ideal: in the second half of 2025 Judd Trump lost several finals and finished without titles, which contrasts with his dominance the previous year. However, his class has not gone anywhere. His last official match was the UK Championship final, where he lost to Mark Selby. The break has been long, but for him this is not critical: his style is based on controlling the tempo, positional play and the ability to punish every opponent’s mistake. In head-to-head meetings with Ding Junhui he feels confident and rarely lets the initiative slip.
Ding Junhui
The season has been difficult for Ding Junhui. There are bright spells, but no stability. Against top-level players he often fades over the course of matches. A characteristic example is their most recent head-to-head, where after a good start he quickly lost control and was beaten (2:6). If his potting is off, he has almost no back-up plan. The long break is also not in his favour, especially given his psychological problems in matches against Judd Trump.
Judd Trump vs Ding Junhui Prediction
The difference in level and in the head-to-head statistics is clear. With both players coming off a similar break, the advantage is entirely on Judd Trump’s side, as he adapts better to the longer format and is able to turn such matches into comfortable wins.
