TRUMP SURVIVES BIG SCARE

JUDD TRUMP narrowly avoided a shock firstround exit like Ronnie O’Sullivan to become the new favourite for the Betfred World Championship. The 29-year-old world No 7 (left) edged past Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh at the Crucible but only after his opponent missed a simple black that would have put him 8-4 ahead. Trump, who fought back to win 10-9, said: ‘This was a great win. You don’t want to lose in the first round. I feared Ronnie going out might be bad for me as for most of the titles I have won recently I have beaten him along the way.’ World No 6 Mark Allen became another big-name casualty, losing 10-7 to China’s Zhou Yuelong.