World Snooker: Trump fairytale faces Final test

WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011
SEMI FINALS
(Best of 33 frames)

Judd Trump beat Ding Junhui (5) 17-15
John Higgins (2) beat Mark J Williams (3) 17-14

JUDD TRUMP will become the second-youngest World Snooker finalist when he takes on three-time champion John Higgins at the Crucible tomorrow.

Bristolian Trump, 21, held his nerve to defeat China's Ding Junhui 17-15, hours before Higgins reached his fourth final by beating Mark Williams 17-14.

Both semi finals were exhilarating and played to a magnificent standard. It was clear that each of the players merited a place in the last four.

The Trump-Ding tie opened up with a century apiece before Trump took control by winning four of the next six frames to lead 5-3.

Ding reduced his deficit to one frame at the start of the second session with a 91 break but Trump then won the next two frames to open up a three-frame advantage.

From then, though, Trump really struggled and failed to show the extravagant style which had been evident in his earlier matches.

Ding dominated the afternoon with five straight frames to turn his two-frame deficit into a 9-7 lead.

It was a magnificent turnaround and there were fears that Trump would not be able to turn the tide when Ding's 64 break made it 10-7 at the start of session three.

However, Trump was happy to prove the doubters wrong by reprising his attacking approach for the rest of the third session.

It paid dividends as he won five of the next six frames to go 12-11 ahead with breaks of 67, 77, 61, 102 and 123 but Ding then drew level again with a run of 87.

Resuming at 12-12, Trump attempted to regain control of the match once again by winning the opening two frames.

But Ding responded with a knock of 138, the joint highest break of the tournament, before making a brilliant clearance to come from 53 points down to level the match back up again at 14-14.

Ding then hit yet another century to hold the lead for the first time in the session but the threat of defeat only seemed to spur the indefatigable Trump on further.

Frame 30 should have also been won by Ding but Trump recovered a 48-point deficit before using that momentum to push on.

Trump went to within one frame of victory with a 68 break before compiling an outstanding 105 break to seal victory in typically audacious style.

Ding will be disappointed that he has failed to become the first Chinese player to reach the Final but he can be pleased that he went beyond the last 16 for the first time.

If nothing else, Ding has surely disproved the theory that he could not handle the Crucible pressure by producing some fine performances including this one in the semi final.

His time will come but, for now, the focus is undoubtedly on the Trump fairytale.

To be honest, the youngster could not face a trickier opponent than world number one Higgins but the Scotsman also had to work very hard for his place in the Final against the experienced Mark Williams.

Williams, who won the world title in 2000 and 2003, started their semi final brighter and led 5-3 at the end of the opening session.

The Welshman made it 6-3 and the start of session two before the next six frames were shared to ensure Williams would take an advantage into third session.

Higgins was in damage limitation mode and made sure he won a scrappy 16th frame to leave his arrears at just 9-7 meaning, somehow, he had tied the second session at 4-4 despite being thoroughly outplayed.

Williams would end up paying for not taking greater advantage of his dominance but the punishment for his profligacy did not come immediately.

The players split the opening four frames of the third session, putting Williams 11-9 ahead - but, from then on, it was all Higgins and the Wishaw man took four successive frames to lead 13-11.

Williams needed to respond, and he did, winning two of the opening three frames. This run included a break of 105 which featured 14 reds and 13 blacks but Williams was denied the maximum after going in-off having potted the 14th black.

Higgins was also playing well, though, and he showed his level had not dropped either with a brilliant run of 123 to go 15-13 up.

Williams reduced the lead back to one frame with another fine break, this time of 84, but Higgins edged frame 30 to put him within sight of victory.

Another scrappy frame followed and Higgins looked set for victory until Williams began to compile of 64 break.

After missing several chances on the final red, though, the Welshman could do nothing as Higgins cleared up to reach yet another Final.

However, Williams should not be too disappointed with his efforts this year in Sheffield.

Having tumbled worryingly down the rankings just a couple of years ago, his place in the semi finals confirmed a return to form this season and Ebbw Vale man will surely win further titles before the end of his career.

This time, though, Williams can only watch on as the legendary master Higgins and the flamboyant apprentice Trump slug it out over a maximum of 35 frames for snooker's greatest title.


EARLIER RESULTS:

QUARTER FINALS
(Best of 25 frames)

Judd Trump beat Graeme Dott (9) 13-5
Ding Junhui (5) beat Mark Selby (4) 13-10

Mark J Williams (3) beat Mark Allen (11) 13-5
John Higgins (2) beat Ronnie O'Sullivan (10) 13-10

SECOND ROUND
(Best of 25 frames)

Judd Trump beat Martin Gould 13-6
Graeme Dott (9) beat Allister Carter (8) 13-11


Ding Junhui (5) beat Stuart Bingham 13-12
Mark Selby (4) beat Stephen Hendry (13) 13-4


Mark J Williams (3) beat Jamie Cope (14) 13-4
Mark Allen (11) beat Barry Hawkins 13-12


Ronnie O'Sullivan (10) beat Shaun Murphy (7) 13-10
John Higgins (2) beat Rory McLeod 13-7

FIRST ROUND
(Best of 19 frames)

Judd Trump beat Neil Robertson (1) 10-8
Martin Gould beat Marco Fu (16) 10-8
Graeme Dott (9) beat Mark King 10-7
Allister Carter (8) beat Dave Harold 10-3

Ding Junhui (5) beat Jamie Burnett 10-2
Stuart Bingham beat Peter Ebdon (12) 10-8
Stephen Hendry (13) beat Joe Perry 10-9
Mark Selby (4) beat Jimmy Robertson 10-1

Mark J Williams (3) beat Ryan Day 10-5
Jamie Cope (14) beat Andrew Pagett 10-7
Mark Allen (11) beat Matthew Stevens 10-9 
Barry Hawkins beat Stephen Maguire (6) 10-9

Shaun Murphy (7) beat Marcus Campbell 10-1
Ronnie O'Sullivan (10) beat Dominic Dale 10-2
Rory McLeod beat Ricky Walden (15) 10-6
John Higgins (2) beat Stephen Lee 10-5