Judd Trump
Judd Trump

Snooker results: Judd Trump thrashes Zhang Anda 6-2 to book place in UK Championship semi-finals


Judd Trump produced a devastating display to thrash Zhang Anda 6-2 and progress to the semi-finals of the UK Championship.

One day on from his nail-biting victory over John Higgins in a match that went the distance, Trump ensured there would be no such drama with three centuries in the opening four frames, during which his opponent failed to register a single point.

Zhang finally got on the board in frame six and then registered a century to cut the deficit to just two, but Trump restored his authority and signed off with yet another century, his run of 120 a fitting way to end.

And the 35-year-old is in no doubt about the reason behind his success, telling the BBC: "I put the hard work in, everyone else is looking for some quick fix.

"Some players aren’t willing to put the long hours in and to get to the top you have to do that.

"I do need to pace myself sometimes, but I still know after this tournament finishes, whether I win or lose, I have to get back on the practice table.

"I dodged a bullet against John [Higgins] and sometimes when that happens you feel like you’ve got another life.

"I knew my form wasn’t far away, just sometimes I’ve been a little bit too cagey. Today I felt a lot better than yesterday and the day before."

He'll face Kyren Wilson in Saturday's first last-four tie after the world champion proved too strong for Michael Holt.

Wilson has yet to break sweat this week and was always in control of this quarter-final, easing into a 3-0 lead and looking comfortable thereafter.

Five breaks of fifty-plus did the job for Wilson, and he'll head into Saturday's showdown knowing he has already beaten Trump in big finals in China and Belfast this season.

Hawkins overpowers Murphy

Barry Hawkins powered clear of Shaun Murphy to win their match 6-2.

Murphy had seemingly gone into the mid-session interval with a spring in his step having produced breaks of 108 and 92 to level at 2-2, but Hawkins rattled off breaks of 69, 91, 80 and 82 to wrap up a convincing victory.

Hawkins beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in round one but survived a mighty scare in round two when David Gilbert effectively handed him the win when he missed a simple green in their final frame decider.

"I was sitting in my chair (on Wednesday) thinking whether I’m going to drive home that night or in the morning and all of a sudden I’m back at the table," said Hawkins.

"I was qualifying last week and all you want to do is get to the main venue. This is what you play for."

Having bemoaned his form after his first two matches, Mark Allen looked much more like his old self as he beat Jack Lisowski 6-3.

Lisowski's wait for a maiden ranking title win goes on, but he was clear second best on this occasion despite at one stage leading 3-1.

Allen turned in a polished display that included a century in frame six, and reeled off five frames in a row with barrage of big breaks that suggests he might just have turned a corner.


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