Judd Trump reached the 65th ranking semi-final of his career after beating Shaun Murphy at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast on Friday.
The world No. 1 sealed back-to-back centuries as he strolled to victory against a frustrated Murphy, who impressed in parts, but could not stop a relentless Trump.
After the match, Trump said that he knew he could have been in danger after a quick start from Murphy, but he got himself out of the woods and never looked back.
“The first frame was massive, I think, to nick that and settle into the game,” he told Eurosport. “Because he [Murphy] looked sharp at the start.
“That’s just something I’m able to do at the moment, just able to recognise when I’m in danger and get myself out of it at the start.”
Things started well for Murphy in the opening frame as he built a 62-point margin, but then he over-cut a red to the top right, which let Trump in. It took a few visits, but the world No. 1 stormed back into contention and nicked the opener by a point with a tidy clearance on the colours.
‘Breathtaking break’ – Trump makes back-to-back centuries in ‘stylish’ fashion
But ‘The Magician’ continued his good form in the early stages to roar back in the second frame with a break of 66 to set down a marker as Trump conceded.
Murphy was left visibly frustrated during the third frame because he could have been 3-0 ahead, but instead trailed the 2019 World Champion again after a close encounter, which ended 68-28 after tense periods of safety play.
Trump had his eye in at this point, and he moved to within two frames of victory ahead of the mid-session interval after sealing his fourth century of the week, hammering down a break of 128 for 3-1.
And despite the short break, it did not take ‘The Ace in the Pack’ long to extend his lead even further as he posted back-to-back centuries. This time he managed a 125 break as he moved one from a spot in the semi-final.
Following a mistake from Murphy in the sixth frame, Trump looked on his way to another big break and the win, but he could only draw 14 points before he sent an erratic red crashing between the jaws of the top left pocket.
There was not much Murphy could do to work his way back into the contest, as Trump returned to the baize and continued his excellent form to book his place in the last four.
Trump will face Elliott Slessor for a place in the final after the 30-year-old overcame world No. 71 Louis Heathcote.
‘The winning ball has gone in!’ – Trump sinks ‘unusual’ long red to close in on victory