Judd Trump has been in action at the UK Championship this week (Image: BBC)
left absolutely baffled in the commentary box after turning down frame ball during his . The Bristol-born star only needed to pot the blue to level the match at 1-1 but opted to play safe instead.
The decision could have proven costly as Higgins went on to pot the blue ball with his next shot.
But Trump eventually found the centre of the pocket with a long-range shot on the pink to clinch the frame.
Hendry, who was on commentary duties with John Parrot, was astounded that Trump nudged the blue safe instead of attempting to pot it as he exclaimed: “I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The pink’s not in the open, that’s very tight play from Judd Trump. Is he going to pay for that decision?
“I find it a very baffling decision, I know he’s not trying to set the blue up for John Higgins, but I honestly can’t believe he’s refused frame ball.”
Higgins had a similar shot to Trump when faced with the pink and decided to take it on with assistance from the rest. He ultimately missed the shot, but would have been left with a routine black to win the frame if the ball had dropped.
Judd Trump turned down frame ball during his clash with John Higgins at the UK Championship (Image: BBC)
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And Hendry added: “If Judd’s refused the blue you could argue that John should refuse the pink. It was a tough shot with the rest. It was a shot to win the frame. Judd’s a left-hander, it was comfortable. Very strange. The game’s changed.”
Ken Doherty and then disagreed with each other as they discussed the incident in the studio after the frame had come to an end.
“I don’t know why [he turned the blue down] to be honest,” Doherty stated. “How many times would you have seen him refuse a shot like this, particularly to win the frame? He only needs the blue.
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“But maybe he’s just not comfortable. He probably feels the pockets are a bit tight. He just didn’t fancy it, but it’s very hard to refuse that.”
And Murphy hit back: “I have to disagree, I’m really sorry. I’m sorry to play the ‘I’ve played on the table’ card. These pockets are miniscule and how many out of 10 is he going to pot of that?
“He’s spent the best part of 40 minutes grafting, working for your chances just to throw it away on a blue I might get. I thought he played the right shot.”