England’s Judd Trump cruised past Neil Robertson to set up a Players Championship semi-final with Ronnie O’Sullivan. Trump is the defending champion and has made a fine defence so far in beating Stephen Maguire and Robertson. Robertson raced into a 1-0 lead thanks to a break of 68 but Trump continued to pile on the pressure with some brilliant snookers. Despite starting on the back foot, he won five frames on the bounce with top breaks of 73 and 100.
Although O’Sullivan will be the toughest test he has faced this week, the omens are good for the 28-year-old. He beat O’Sullivan in the final of the World Grand Prix at the same venue in Llandudno three years ago and also in the quarter-finals last year. Trump admits it will be tough to beat O’Sullivan although he is excited to do battle once again.
Trump told World Snooker: “There are not many players who have a better record against him than me. It helps that I know him on a personal level because I practice with him. “I’m probably a bit more comfortable with him than a lot of other players. He played amazingly in the final at the Shanghai Masters and hammered me there (10-3). “I’m under no illusions as to how hard it will be, I will have to play better than today. A lot of the ranking events I have won, I have knocked him out along the way, and that shows the confidence you can get from beating him.”
O’Sullivan is 1/2 favourite while Trump can be backed at odds of 8/5.