Defending champion Judd Trump cruises into Cazoo Champion of Champions semi-finals
- Nick Krige
- 3 November 2022
Judd Trump thrashed Mark Allen 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Cazoo Champion of Champions in Bolton, while Fan Zhengyi knocked out Ryan Day in a match that came down to the wire.
Allen did not pot a ball in the first two frames as Trump compiled breaks of 58, 54 and 78, the latter then taking the third frame as well with a 64 after Allen missed a red to the middle on 46.
A century in frame four finally got Allen on the scoreboard, only for Trump to respond with scores of 104, 79 and 79 to complete a comprehensive victory.
Trump had earlier beaten Luca Brecel 4-2 in Group One before Allen defeated Joe Perry by the same score, the Northern Irishman making breaks of 118, 57, 110 and 97.
Trump will face Mark Selby in the last four, with the semi-final line-up due to be completed on Thursday when Ronnie O'Sullivan, Robert Milkins, Zhao Xintong and women's world champion Mink Nutcharut contest Group Two.
Fan Zhengyi won a last-frame decider to beat Ryan Day 6-5 and reach the semi-finals of the Cazoo Champion of Champions.
World number 37 Fan hit back from 3-1 down and made breaks of 135 and 130 and four more half-century scores on his way to victory in Bolton.
Day, the world number 16, made four half-century breaks of his own in a thrilling Group Three final, but was edged out in a tense deciding frame.
Fan had earlier edged through to the group final after defeating world number two Neil Robertson 4-3.
Robertson made a 122 break in the second frame on his way to a 3-2 lead, but Fan responded with successive scores of 94 and 98 to secure an upset.
Day also won a last-frame decider in his 4-3 group win against world number seven Kyren Wilson, sealing victory with a break of 86 after letting slip a 3-1 lead.
