Judd Trump leads David Gilbert to close in on World Championship quarter-finals
Trump has won each of his last 10 meetings with King
Judd Trump moved to the brink of the World Championship quarter-finals after opening a commanding 11-5 lead over David Gilbert at the Crucible on Sunday.
The world number one – and one of the favourites for the title – made a slow start to his second-round clash, falling 3-1 behind.
But Trump responded by reeling off the next four frames – hitting two centuries along the way – to lead 5-3 at the conclusion of the morning session.
And although the Ace struggled to replicate those levels in the evening, he still managed another ton as he moved to within two frames of a place in the last eight.
Trump is targeting a second World title and sixth ranking event success during another brilliant season on the tour.
But needing a strong run in Sheffield to preserve his top-16 status, Gilbert made a strong start with runs of 55 and 94 giving him an early 3-1 lead.
However, the Ace hit back with breaks of 114, 65 and 105 as he won four frames on the spin to hold a 5-3 advantage.
A couple of flukes paved the way for Gilbert to draw first blood in the evening, while the 2019 semi-finalist looked like levelling in the following frame.
But Trump achieved the snooker he required and snatched a 6-4 lead on the black, before runs of 57 and 111 put him 8-4 to the good.
Gilbert stopped the rot after the interval, but further contributions of 69 and 67 saw the 2019 World champion put one foot in the quarter-finals.
Stuart Bingham also looks on course for a place in the last eight; establishing a 10-6 overnight lead against Jamie Jones.
The only two qualifiers remaining in the competition, they shared the opening eight frames with breaks of 99, 58 and 61 from Bingham cancelling out Jones’ runs of 121 and 81.
But it was the 2015 champion who took control in the evening; making 77, 119, 61 and 81 as he won six of the eight frames on offer.
Shaun Murphy is also 10-6 to the good against Masters champion Yan Bingtao.
Crucible king in 2005, the Magician has not been past the second round since reaching his third World final in 2015.
But leading 6-2 overnight, he strengthened his chances of ending the drought by sharing the eight frames in the second session; moving to within three of victory.
Meanwhile, Mark Selby holds a 9-6 advantage over Mark Allen, who has closed the gap from 6-2 down with breaks of 67, 72, 78 and 75.
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World Snooker Championship 2021 Scores
Sunday April 25
Last 16
Mark Allen 6-9 Mark Selby
Shaun Murphy 10-6 Yan Bingtao
Stuart Bingham 10-6 Jamie Jones
David Gilbert 5-11 Judd Trump