World Snooker Championship 2021 Day Ten preview and order of play: Trump on the brink of Crucible quarter-finals

Jonathan Davies in World Snooker Championship 26 April 2021

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Judd Trump leads David Gilbert to close in on World Championship quarter-finals

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Shaun Murphy relishing “free crack” at Judd Trump after reaching World Championship Quarter-Finals

Judd Trump gets his Crucible campaign under way (Photo by George Wood/PA Images)

Judd Trump requires just two more frames to book his place in the World Championship quarter-finals when he resumes against David Gilbert on Day Ten at The Crucible.

This year’s Last Eight line-up will be completed on Monday as all four remaining second-round clashes play to a conclusion in Sheffield.

Thirteen frames is the target for all eight players, who are looking to join Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and Anthony McGill in the Quarter-Finals.

World number one Trump is in a strong position to secure his passage into the last eight for a fourth consecutive year.

The Ace capitalised on sloppy play from 2019 semi-finalist Gilbert during their opening two sessions on Sunday; establishing a commanding 11-5 lead.

All is not lost for Gilbert yet, though. Neil Robertson famously recovered from the same deficit to defeat Martin Gould at this stage of the 2010 tournament, before going on to lift the trophy.

The Tamworth cueist will be desperate to follow the Australian’s lead as he looks to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time.

Meanwhile, 2005 champion Shaun Murphy needs just three more frames to secure his place in the last eight for the first time since 2015.

The Magician is currently 10-6 to the good against Masters champion Yan Bingtao, who is looking to overturn this deficit and embark on a maiden voyage into the last eight.

Stuart Bingham is another player that has failed to make the last eight at the Crucible since 2015; the year he lifted the trophy in Sheffield.

Ballrun holds a commanding 10-6 advantage against 2012 quarter-finalist Jamie Jones in the battle of the two remaining qualifiers.

The closest of the remaining second-round matches sees Mark Selby resume leading 9-6 against Mark Allen.

The three-time World champion, who had been 6-2 to the good, will rely on his sheer grit and determination to get him over the line and into a 10th Crucible quarter-final.

Allen – a semi-finalist in 2009 – demonstrated great character to close the gap on Sunday, but must produce more of the same if he is to advance to the last eight for only the third time in 12 years.

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