Judd Trump has once again showcased his prowess on the snooker table by bludgeoning his way to a 6-2 victory over Zhang Anda in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship. This match was particularly thrilling as Trump came close to surpassing Ronnie O’Sullivan’s illustrious record for unanswered points, hinting at the kind of form that could see him lift yet another major title.
From the very beginning, Trump, known as “The Ace,” demonstrated dominance, racing to a 5-0 lead against his opponent. During the match, Zhang tried to stage a comeback, securing a couple of frames towards the end, but the world number one made sure to round off the contest smoothly with his fourth century of the afternoon, scoring a remarkable break of 124. Trump’s initial dominance was, in part, fuelled by an exceptional first frame break of 89, followed by a staggering 126 in the subsequent frame, leaving little room for Zhang to breathe or find his footing.
Trump’s barrage of scoring did not relent; he achieved a breathtaking frame with a break of 131, and at the interval, he had amassed 466 unanswered points. Notably, he was nearing the breaking of O’Sullivan’s record of 556 unanswered points set during the 2014 Masters. Unfortunately for Trump, this ambition fell just short, as he ultimately concluded his run at 527 points, with a missed red allowing Zhang to make a rare pot that elicited cheers from the crowd in York.
Following Trump’s impressive streak, Zhang Anda found his groove, securing his first frame after trailing 5-0. Zhang, ranked 11th in the world, mounted a comeback reminiscent of his previous stunning comeback against Stuart Bingham. Thereafter, he reduced Trump’s lead to 5-2 with a break of 62 in a scrappy frame, showcasing resilience that briefly ignited hope among his supporters.
Nevertheless, Trump quickly quashed any concerns of a sudden upset, returning to form with a swift and commanding performance in the final frame. He dusted off his opponent with another stellar century break, further cementing his position as a formidable contender for the championship. Trump remarked on his performance, emphasizing the importance of starting well and maintaining composure to capitalize on the early advantage he had built up. He expressed contentment in reaching the semi-finals, regardless of whether he faced Kyren Wilson or Michael Holt in the next round.
Meanwhile, Barry Hawkins also made headlines by securing his own 6-2 victory over Shaun Murphy. Hawkins exhibited streaks of brilliance, starting with an early break of 63 before Murphy responded spectacularly with a century break of 108, which temporarily halved the deficit. Nevertheless, Hawkins wasn’t to be deterred. He rallied impressively to pull ahead with significant breaks of 69 and 91, ultimately giving him a comfortable lead of 4-2.
In a decisive late-game surge, Hawkins extended his advantage with breaks of 80 and culminating with a final break of 82, leaving Murphy limited in options and pushing Hawkins into the semi-finals against either Jack Lisowski or Mark Allen. Despite the loss, Murphy recognized Hawkins’s impeccable gameplay and praised him for his performance, acknowledging the high level required to win against an opponent like him. He conveyed that in snooker, the game’s nature could often leave players as spectators when their opponents perform brilliantly without leaving any openings.
Both Trump and Hawkins delivered extraordinary performances that not only entertained but also highlighted the high-caliber talent present in the tournament. With their respective victories, they now look ahead to the semi-finals with aspirations of making it to the final and potentially claiming the coveted UK Championship title. Viewers can continue to watch and stream these electrifying snooker battles through Webpressnews and discovery+.
