Judd Trump's World Open 2025 Defense Crumbles as Joe O'Connor Claims Victory

Judd Trump's World Open title defense came to an abrupt end as he was defeated 5-2 by Joe O'Connor in the last 32 at the World Open 2025 in Yushan, China. This loss marked the end of Trump's impressive 16-match unbeaten run at the event. Despite a dominant 5-1 victory over China's Long Zehuang earlier in the tournament, Trump couldn't maintain his form against O'Connor, who delivered a stellar performance.

O'Connor, ranked 29th in the world, showcased his skill with five half-centuries and a decisive break of 113 to secure his win. "I enjoyed being out there against the best player in the world," O'Connor remarked after the match. "Luckily for me, it was my day. There's no reason why I can't go on and win it."

Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson's 5-4 defeat by Zhou Yuelong left eighth seed Shaun Murphy as the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament. Murphy advanced to the last 16 with a commanding 5-0 victory over Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and is set to face China's Ding Junhui next, who defeated Hossein Vafaei 5-3.

The World Open 2025 continues to deliver thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, keeping snooker fans on the edge of their seats. With the competition heating up, all eyes are now on the remaining players as they battle for the prestigious title.