Trump completes century of centuries as he closes in on Crucible quarter-finals
Trump notched his 100th century of the season (PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)
Judd Trump hit his 100th century of the season on the way to taking a 10-6 lead over Shaun Murphy in the World Championship second round.
The world number one achieved the milestone in the penultimate frame of his second session with the Magician at The Crucible on Sunday, earning a bonus prize of £100,000.
Trump has reached triple figures in a single season for the second time in his career – also doing so in 2019-20, as he won a record six ranking titles.
Most importantly, it helped him close in on reaching an 11th Crucible quarter-final, for which he requires just three more frames.
Trump was playing his fourth match at the World Championship against Murphy, who had prevailed in two of the three previous encounters.
The Magician made the brighter start with breaks of 75 and 103 on the way to a 3-2 lead, but the Ace won the next three frames with runs of 62 and 98 to edge his nose ahead.
Murphy won a lengthy first frame of the evening session, while the next four were shared to leave the contest finely poised at 7-6 to Trump.
The world number one, who had gone agonisingly close to adding to his century tally earlier in the session, found another gear with a break of 106 putting him back in control.
The Crucible then rose to its feet as a superb 132 total clearance completed his century of centuries for the campaign, before a 92 put him 10-6 to the good overnight.
Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel are on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals, after establishing 12-4 leads over Pang Junxu and Ding Junhui respectively.
Pang, who trailed 6-2, reduced his deficit to 6-4 with runs of 87 and 62, though it proved a false dawn for the world number 27.
Indeed, the Rocket hit breaks of 79, 80, 105, 135 and 62 to move within a frame of the last eight.
Brecel, who lifted trophy in 2023, finds himself in the same position after turning his 7-1 lead into a dominant 12-2 advantage, though 2016 finalist Ding hit breaks of 107 and 110 to force a third session.
Earlier in the day, Zhao Xintong advanced to the World Championship quarter-finals for the first time, after sealing a 13-10 win over Lei Peifan.
The latter trailed 10-6, but breaks of 130, 94 and 65 saw him reduce the deficit to 12-10, though a run of 54 eventually got Zhao over the line. Setting up a clash with Chris Wakelin, he is the first amateur to reach the last eight in Sheffield.
His compatriot Si Jiahui snatched the last frame of the second session on the black to lead Ben Woollaston 9-7 overnight.
The 2023 semi-finalist led 5-3, but looked like he would be pegged back to 8-8 at 56-14 down in frame 16, but produced a timely 46 clearance to ensure he has breathing space heading into Monday’s finale.
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World Snooker Championship 2025 Scores
*Indicates final session
Sunday April 27
Second Round
Lei Peifan 10-13 Zhao Xintong*
Ronnie O’Sullivan (12-4) Pang Junxu
Luca Brecel (12-4) Ding Junhui
Shaun Murphy (6-10) Judd Trump
Si Jiahui (9-7) Ben Woollaston