Judd Trump edges final-frame decider against Shaun Murphy at World Championship
Judd Trump held his nerve to edge a final-frame decider against Shaun Murphy at the Betfair World Championship.
Last Updated: 01/05/13 11:06pm
Trump, who had trailed Murphy 8-3 at one point, came through a nerve-wracking 53-minute final frame to secure a 13-12 triumph over the 2005 champion.
He will now take on O'Sullivan in a mouth-watering last four clash, with the Rocket securing the solitary frame he needed at the start of Wednesday's evening session to complete a 13-4 win over Stuart Bingham.
Having won the last five frames played on Tuesday to level at 8-8, Trump went ahead for the first time since the opening frame of the match when he took the opener on Wednesday.
However, Murphy responded in stunning style with a clearance of 128 and then got his nose back in front with a contribution of 70.
It was then Trump's turn to reassert himself with a break of 77 good enough to level again at 10-10 and the left-hander was back in front as he pinched a scrappy 21st frame.
He should have moved 12-10 ahead, but miscued on the pink before missing an easy pot and allowing Murphy to make it 11-11.
With nothing to separate them it was little surprise when Murphy hit back with a rapid 88 to set up a final-frame shoot-out, cancelling out Trump's break of 90 in the previous stanza.
It was to prove a gripping, see-saw affair with both players having numerous chances after the reds scattered, although Murphy may now be regretting his rather cautious approach having opted for safety ahead of pots on more than one occasion.
A fine snooker behind the blue looked to have turned things decisively in Trump's favour but he was unable to close things out, allowing Murphy another life.
But the right-hander would leave a red on which Trump gobbled up and, although he opted to lay a snooker ahead of taking on a difficult black that would of sealed things, he was vindicated after coming back to pot the colours he needed to finally get over the line.
In the last quarter-final to finish, Chester's Ricky Walden - who led 10-6 heading into the closing session - reeled off three frames in a row to wrap up a convincing 13-6 win over Wales' Michael White and will now face fellow last-four debutant Barry Hawkins in the semis.