Trump’s fired up
JUDD TRUMP set up a sizzling Crucible quarter-final against John Higgins before blasting Ricky Walden for “taking liberties”. Trump beat Walden 13-9 in their Betfred World Championship clash in Sheffield after winning the final five frames. Trump, chasing a first world title, will now face four-time champion Higgins in a repeat of the brilliant 2011 final won 18-15 by the Scot. But the turning point came in frame 20 with Trump trailing 9-8 in frames and 48-6 in points as Walden took on an ambitious red to the middle pocket. World No 3 Trump, who pounced on the miss to clear up for 9-9, said: “Ricky took on a crazy ball and it spurred me on. Something inside me fired up and the whole game turned. One ball can change the match even in a long game. It was the first time in the championship I felt alive, and I made a really good clearance. That was my moment.
“It felt like a liberty, maybe he thought the way I was playing I wouldn’t clear up. I didn’t think he should be playing that against me.
“It was nice to finish with a century break of 103 and it was my scoring that got me through in the end. It will be tough against John. I will have to play somewhere near my best but if I play like I did at the end I have a chance.
“The atmosphere in that 2011 final was the best I have ever seen, and I will try and take inspiration from that.”
World No 27 Walden, who has suffered from serious back pain this season, replied: “Judd can think what he wants, I play the shot as I see it. If I were to comment on every shot Judd plays then we’d be here all day. We’ve got different games – that’s the way it is.
“I felt it was the shot to play. I didn’t execute it very well and then Judd made a great break, so fair play to him.”
Higgins, relishing the quarter-final clash, said: “People have asked if Judd should have kicked on more since that 2011 world final but it is difficult. Even if he hasn’t won a world title, he has still won multiple events every season and that is pretty good in this era.”
Title favourite Ding Junhui completed a 13-4 win over Scotland’s Anthony McGill and two-time winner Mark Williams became the last man into the quarter-finals with a 13-7 win over Rob Milkins.
Williams, 43, who will play Ali Carter, said: “I feel like a contender.”