Trump thrashes Zhao to reach last four of British Open

Judd Trump triumphed 5-1 over world number one Zhao Xintong to advance to the semi-finals of the British Open. The English player will now take on either Aaron Hill or Jak Jones in the next round, while Mark Selby will face Liam Highfield. Trump expressed his excitement about the single-table setup, stating that it intensifies the tournament's atmosphere and fuels his determination.

Earlier, Highfield had defeated Stan Moody 5-2, and Selby had defeated Jack Lisowski with a 5-0 scoreline. Trump's victory was particularly satisfying, as he had recently lost the number one ranking to Zhao. The 37-year-old, who has won 31 ranking titles, began the match with a break of 101 and 57, leading to a quick 1-0 lead. Despite Zhao's century later in the game, Trump maintained control, scoring two more half-centuries and securing his spot in the semi-finals.