Judd Trump is relishing the next chapter of his emerging rivalry with Kyren Wilson after the pair swept into the UK Championship semi-finals in York on Friday. Trump compiled four centuries and 527 points without reply in his 6-2 win over Zhang Anda while Wilson overcame the tournament’s surprise package Michael Holt 6-3. Their wins set up a Saturday showdown between the world’s top two players, the only ones to bank more than £1m each in prize money so far this season, and Trump hopes it will spur him on to new heights.
“I think it is great for everyone that there is kind of two players that are achieving some great stuff this season,” said Trump, who was beaten by Wilson in finals in Xian and Belfast this season. “If Kyren wasn’t there, then [my] lead at the top of the rankings would be astronomical. You need someone on your heels to keep pushing you and make you keep going back to practise.
We’re both trying to push each other on at the moment.” The world No 1 was in unplayable form as he rifled breaks of 89, 126, 120 and 131 in the first four frames to leave Zhang cemented in his chair. Zhang briefly rallied with a century of his own but the 35-year-old Trump, who is seeking his first UK title since 2011, finished the job looking unrecognisable from the player who struggled through the first two rounds against Neil Robertson and John Higgins.
“I dodged a bullet against John and sometimes when that happens you feel like you’ve got another life,” adde.
