Rampant Trump beats Selby to reach International Championship final
Defending champion Judd Trump and world number one Mark Selby both scored heavily as they emerged from their opening bouts unscathed at the China Open on Monday.
Both Englishman had their qualifying round matches held over to the venue stages and each managed to compile a hat-trick of centuries in their respective victories over Jason Weston and Adam Stefanow.
Trump ended the first session at the Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre with a break of 97 to take a 5-3 lead during a thoroughly engrossing first session.
'The Ace In The Pack' has not lost to Selby in four years, and Trump earned a return to the world number one spot on Thursday after his last 16 win over Joe Perry.
Selby would have fancied a lead himself when he led 3-1, but in the best of 17 frames, it was Trump who held the advantage in the first semi-final in China after winning three frames in a row.
But having led by two frames, the world number six headed into the second session somewhat exasperated and with work to do to turn things around against a player who has enjoyed handsome victories over him in each of their previous three meetings.
Trump, who replaced Ronnie O'Sullivan as world number one earlier this week, won 9-4 in Daqing, China.
The 29-year-old fell 3-1 behind but recovered to lead 5-3 at the end of the opening session, dropping just one more frame on his way to victory.
"It was probably somewhere near how I was playing to win the World Championship," said Trump.
Defending champion Mark Allen will face Shaun Murphy in the other semi-final.
Both Englishman had their qualifying round matches held over to the venue stages and each managed to compile a hat-trick of centuries in their respective victories over Jason Weston and Adam Stefanow.
Trump ended the first session at the Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre with a break of 97 to take a 5-3 lead during a thoroughly engrossing first session.
'The Ace In The Pack' has not lost to Selby in four years, and Trump earned a return to the world number one spot on Thursday after his last 16 win over Joe Perry.
Selby would have fancied a lead himself when he led 3-1, but in the best of 17 frames, it was Trump who held the advantage in the first semi-final in China after winning three frames in a row.
But having led by two frames, the world number six headed into the second session somewhat exasperated and with work to do to turn things around against a player who has enjoyed handsome victories over him in each of their previous three meetings.
Trump, who replaced Ronnie O'Sullivan as world number one earlier this week, won 9-4 in Daqing, China.
The 29-year-old fell 3-1 behind but recovered to lead 5-3 at the end of the opening session, dropping just one more frame on his way to victory.
"It was probably somewhere near how I was playing to win the World Championship," said Trump.
Defending champion Mark Allen will face Shaun Murphy in the other semi-final.
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