Defending champion Judd Trump cruised into the semi-finals of the UK Championship with an impressive 6-2 victory over three-time winner Ding Junhui.
The result provides world number one Trump with a small measure of revenge for his UK semi-final defeat to Ding in York two years ago.
Ding, who won this title for the first time exactly 20 years ago, started strongly with breaks of 89 and 83, but after that Trump took control to reach a third successive UK semi-final.
A run of 73 reduced his arrears and he then won two scrappy frames before compiling a break of 91 to lead 4-2.
Trump, winner of 30 ranking titles, punished mistakes from his under-par opponent to book a last-four appearance against either Australia’s Neil Robertson or China’s Pang Junxu.
“In the last couple of events I have found the confidence to go for it,” Trump said.
“It has not been vintage but the difference this tournament has been the timing, when I have needed to make a clearance or pot an important ball they have been going in.
“I feel a lot more confident. Event though I am not back to my best I’ve done everything I need to do at the crucial times.”
Should he meet Robertson, it would be a repeat of the 2020 UK final which the Australian won 10-9 in an epic encounter that went on into the early hours of the morning.
More to follow.
