Trump beats Hawkins to reach NI Open quarter-finals

Judd Trump is aiming for a fifth Northern Ireland Open title

Judd Trump continued his defence of the Northern Ireland Open title with a 4-1 victory against Barry Hawkins in Belfast on Thursday night.

The world number one made breaks of 69 and 63 to move into a 2-0 lead before Hawkins pulled one back.

Trump won the fourth frame before a 105 break saw him seal victory and a place in the quarter-finals at the Waterfront Hall.

On Friday evening he will face Shaun Murphy, who beat fellow former world champion Stuart Bingham 4-3 on the final black.

Mark Williams defeated Ma Hailong 4-2 and will take on Kyren Wilson for a semi-final spot, with reigning world champion Wilson overcoming exciting teenager Stan Moody 4-1.

China's Pang Junxu whitewashed Martin O'Donnell 4-0 and will next play Neil Robertson, another Thursday night winner with a 4-1 victory over Oliver Lines.

The other last-eight encounter will see Louis Heathcote going up against Elliot Slessor.

Heathcote enjoyed a 4-2 win over Tian Pengfei and Slessor beat Lei Peifan 4-1.

Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams will play in the NI Open quarter-finals

Murphy compiled a break of 104 to win the first frame against Bingham, who responded with 121 to draw level.

Essex veteran Bingham moved 3-1 ahead, helped by a run of 101 in frame four, but breaks of 56 and 52 helped Murphy draw level before the world number eight got over the line.

Despite a break of 60 from Bingham, Murphy sank a match-winning black along the baulk cushion in the decider to secure a third quarter-final appearance at the event.

A 91 break saw Wilson get off to a flying start against 18-year-old Moody, who was bidding to reach the quarter-final stage of a ranking tournament for the first time.

The world number two added the next frames to take firm control before his teenage opponent replied with a 70 to reduce his arrears.

Wilson closed out the match by winning a scrappy fifth frame.

Former NI Open winner Williams was pegged back from 2-0 to 2-2 in his match against Ma, but the three-time world champion from Wales proved too strong as he advanced.