BRENTWOOD, Essex — The 2024 BetVictor English Open witnessed a seismic shift in its narrative on Thursday as the tournament’s top two seeds, world number one Judd Trump and world number three Shaun Murphy, were sensationally knocked out in the fifth round. In a stunning turn of events at the Brentwood Centre, both snooker heavyweights succumbed to 4-3 defeats, clearing a wide-open path for the remaining contenders.
Trump, the recent winner of the Wuhan Open and the overwhelming favorite, saw his hopes for a second English Open title dashed by a resurgent Elliot Slessor. Simultaneously, on an adjacent table, 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy was eliminated by the young Welsh talent Jackson Page in an equally tense final-frame decider. The dual exits sent shockwaves through the competition, upending the expected storyline for the latter stages.
Slessor Stuns the World Number One
Judd Trump entered his match against Elliot Slessor in imperious form, having dropped just three frames all tournament. However, the world number 44 from Gateshead played with a fearlessness that belied the gap in their rankings. Slessor seized the initiative early, capitalizing on uncharacteristic errors from Trump to build a commanding 3-1 lead, highlighted by breaks of 69 and 89.
Facing elimination, Trump responded like a champion, reeling off two consecutive frames with a stunning 141 total clearance—the new frontrunner for the tournament's high break—followed by a more gritty 65 to force a nail-biting decider. The final frame was a tense, fragmented affair, but it was Slessor who held his nerve, eventually potting the final balls to secure the biggest win of his career.
A visibly elated Slessor reflected on the monumental victory, stating: "It’s massive. To beat Judd in any tournament is great, but to do it on the big stage... I’m over the moon. I stuck with him and in the end, I just managed to get over the line. I tried to stay calm and treat it like any other match, but it’s hard when you’re out there against the world number one."
Page Ends the Magician's Run
In a near-identical storyline, Shaun Murphy’s quest for a first ranking title of the season was abruptly halted by Jackson Page. The 22-year-old from Wales, long touted as a future star, delivered a performance of immense maturity and potting prowess. Murphy started strongly, but Page’s aggressive, fluent style consistently kept him in the contest, setting the stage for another final-frame thriller.
The match swung back and forth, with neither player able to establish a two-frame cushion. Page compiled a superb century break of 107 to signal his intent, while Murphy responded with heavy scoring of his own. Ultimately, it was Page who controlled the tempo of the decisive seventh frame, keeping Murphy pinned in his seat for long periods and sealing a famous 4-3 victory.
An ecstatic Page acknowledged the significance of the win for his confidence: "It’s a brilliant win for me. Shaun is a great player, a legend of the game, so to beat him on the TV table is amazing. I felt good out there, I trusted my technique and just tried to score heavily when I got my chances. This is a huge boost for me."
A Wide-Open Field Emerges
The simultaneous defeats of the tournament’s two main attractions have completely reshaped the draw. The path to the final, which many predicted would be a showdown between Trump and Murphy, is now devoid of its biggest stars, offering a golden opportunity for the chasing pack.
The remaining players in the quarter-finals will now believe the title is there for the taking. The fallout from these results includes:
- Elliot Slessor now faces a daunting but winnable match against China’s Zhang Anda.
- Jackson Page will take on the experienced Barry Hawkins, another player who will sense a major opportunity.
- Other beneficiaries include former world champions Mark Selby and John Higgins, whose own title credentials have been significantly bolstered.
The betting markets have been turned upside down, with the likes of Selby and Higgins now installed as the new favorites. The atmosphere at the Brentwood Centre has shifted from one of expecting a coronation to one of palpable anticipation for a new, perhaps unexpected, champion to be crowned.
What This Means for the Season
For Judd Trump, the loss is a minor setback in what has been a spectacular start to the season, having already claimed two ranking titles. It underscores the incredible depth on the World Snooker Tour, where any player in the top 64 is capable of a giant-killing on their day. For Shaun Murphy, the search for a return to the winner's circle continues.
Conversely, for Slessor and Page, these victories are career-defining moments. They provide not only a surge in ranking points and prize money but also the invaluable confidence that comes from defeating the very best under extreme pressure. It signals their potential to be consistent forces in the latter stages of tournaments.
As the dust settles on a remarkable day of snooker, the tournament has been thrown wide open. The English Open, known for its drama and unpredictability, has once again lived up to its reputation, proving that in snooker, form and ranking are no guarantee of success when the pressure is at its most intense.
The focus now shifts to the quarter-finals, where a new champion will inevitably emerge from the pack. The message from Brentwood is clear: the established order has been challenged, and the hunger of the next generation is fiercer than ever.
