Judd Trump denies Neil Robertson to reach Welsh Open Semi-Finals

Jonathan Davies in Welsh Open 4 March 2022

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Trump and Robertson face off in York (Photo by Steve Paston/PA Images)

Judd Trump advanced to the Welsh Open semi-finals after beating an emotional Neil Robertson 5-3 at Celtic Manor Resort on Friday.

The highest-ranked player remaining in the final Home Nations event of the campaign, world number three Trump remained on course for a maiden title as he reached the last four of a ranking tournament for a 50th time.

Although, it proved a fairly unspectacular encounter as both players were unable to truly fire on all cylinders, while Robertson later revealed he had been deeply affected by news of the sudden death of compatriot Shane Warne.

The Australian replied with 95 after losing the opener, but runs of 58 and 60 put 2017 runner-up Trump on the brink of victory at 4-1 up.

Two-time winner Robertson, who arrived in the contest having dropped just three frames all week, snatched the next on the black to stay alive before reducing the deficit to 4-3.

However, the Ace eventually got over the line to reach his 10th Home Nations semi-final.

His reward is a showdown with Hossein Vafaei, who produced an inspired turnaround to deny Zhang Anda a first appearance in the last four of a ranking event.

The recently crowned Shootout champion trailed 4-1, but saved his best snooker for when it mattered most, with runs of 68, 58, 63 and 96 seeing him prevail.

Jack Lisowski also recovered from the brink of defeat to overcome Ali Carter in a deciding frame.

Champion of this event in 2009, Carter made breaks of 86 and 53 to establish a 4-2 advantage.

But the Captain failed to score a point thereon; Lisowski scoring 289 without reply. A run of 82 forced the decider, in which the six-time ranking event runner-up produced a sensational 135 total clearance.

Next up for Jackpot is Joe Perry, who will appear in his third Welsh Open semi-final after seeing off Ricky Walden 5-2.

Having already beaten Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson this week, the Gentleman hit a top break of 118 as he added the in-form three-time ranking event winner to his list of scalps, despite the latter making two centuries of his own.

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