Judd Trump v Zhao Xintong live stream | Champion of Champions Semi-Final preview
Trump is eyeing his fifth Champion of Champions final appearance (Credit: Action Plus Sports Images)
Judd Trump goes head to head with Zhao Xintong in a blockbuster opening Champion of Champions semi-final on Friday.
Fans at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester can look forward to a mouth-watering showdown between the world number one and the reigning World champion, with a place in Sunday’s final at stake.
Trump, one of only two Champion of Champions ever-presents since 2013, is appearing in his seventh semi-final at the popular invitational event.
The 2021 champion was not at his fluent best on Monday, but dropped just three frames on the way to prevailing as the Group Two winner.
Trump reeled off four straight frames after losing the opener against reigning Women’s World champion Bai Yulu, before defeating Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan 6-2.
The Ace now looks to remain on course for his first silverware of 2025, by reaching his fifth Champion of Champions final.
That previous knowhow of this tournament may stand him in good stead against Zhao, who is making a first semi-final appearance.
The World champion could have been forgiven for having low expectations when he arrived in Leicester on Tuesday, just hours after landing in the UK following his return from the International Championship in China.
Nevertheless, he took just 49 minutes to complete a resounding 4-0 whitewash of two-time champion Mark Allen for the loss of just a single frame.
It then appeared his race was run at 5-3 down from 3-1 up against Kyren Wilson and looking exhausted in the Group Three final
Yet, he stopped the rot with breaks of 136 and 64, before getting over the line on the final black to make it successive appearances in the last four, having reached the same stage in Nanjing last week.
It promises to be a highly entertaining showdown between two World champions, and two of the most clinical scorers in the game.
The match breaks off at 7pm GMT on Friday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
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