Trump beats Zhang to reach UK Championship semis

Judd Trump has now achieved 1,022 century breaks over his career

World number one Judd Trump produced a devastating display of attacking snooker on his way to a 6-2 win over Zhang Anda and the semi-finals of the UK Championship at the Barbican in York.

Trump, whose only title in this Triple Crown event came in 2011, opened up with an 89 break to win the first frame in less than 10 minutes.

He continued in the same vein with exhilarating breaks of 126, 120 and 131 in a rampant performance to lead 4-0 at the mid-session interval.

Having reached 527 points without reply in the fifth frame, Trump looked on course to eclipse Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of 556, set in 2014 against Ricky Walden, before missing a red to the right corner on 61.

Zhang exuberantly celebrated finally potting a ball but Trump still won the frame and, though his opponent took the next two, the Englishman then sealed his victory with his fourth century of the match.

Trump will now face world champion Kyren Wilson or qualifier Michael Holt in the last four on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Barry Hawkins made five half centuries as he wrapped up a comfortable 6-2 victory over Shaun Murphy.

The world number 20, who had to come through two qualifying matches to reach the televised stages, had already defeated reigning champion O’Sullivan and David Gilbert, and was in impressive form as he reached only his second ever semi-final at the tournament.

While Murphy knocked in breaks of 108 and 92 to draw level from 2-0 down, Hawkins accelerated clear after the interval and scored 162 unanswered points to win the final two frames.

Has Trump installed himself as favourite?

Judd Trump played down suggestions he is now the favourite to win this year's event after advancing past John Higgins in a decider on Thursday.

However, the performance he delivered against China's Zhang only underlined that he is the man to beat.

Zhang's opportunities to score in the first four frames were restricted to just two attempts at difficult long pots, while his opponent, who has won 29 ranking events, did not look like he was going to miss a shot in an almost flawless five-frame stretch.

"It felt a lot better than yesterday and the day before," Trump told BBC Sport.

"The first frame is so important for me if I can get in and get into a rhythm and he left me a quite easy chance. I knew my form wasn’t far away and maybe I’ve been too cagey.

"I was more relaxed. As soon as the first frame goes like that I won’t turn anything down. I’m always disappointed to miss a ball. To go 5-0, I was very disappointed with that. One thing I pride myself on is not to miss for a long period of time."

While Trump always exudes confidence in his own abilities given his winning record, Hawkins has always appeared less self-assured.

The 45-year-old is yet to land one of snooker's Triple Crown events despite repeatedly reaching the later stages on numerous occasions - including one world final and two Masters finals.

But he appears to be enjoying a resurgence after slipping down the rankings from a spot in the coveted top 16.

"After beating Ronnie [O’Sullivan] in the first round why should I worry about playing anybody?" Hawkins said.

"It is probably the best I have felt for a very long time. When the curtain went up I felt that if I got a chance I would take it."