Judd Trump extended his lead over Tom Ford to 11-5 in the second session of their Cazoo World Championship last-16 clash to move within two frames of a tenth Crucible quarter-final.
World number two Trump took five of the eight frames in the middle session to extend his advantage. They return for the conclusion on Saturday at 10am, with first to 13 frames to go through to a meeting with Jak Jones or Si Jiahui. Trump has already won five ranking titles this season and is looking to finish the campaign on a high with a second Crucible crown, having lifted the trophy in 2019.
Having led 6-2 overnight, the Bristolian took the opening frame today with a break of 107, his first century of the tournament. Ford pulled one back with a run of 73 and had a clear scoring chance in the next but missed the black off its spot on 29 and his opponent punished him with 67. Trump added frame 12 to lead 9-3 at the interval.
In the 13th, Trump was on 24 when he missed the brown to a baulk corner, handing Ford the chance to make 48 to reduce the gap. But Trump then dominated the next two with top runs of 59 and 50 to lead 11-4. World number 14 Ford won the last of the session with an 83 but needs eight of the last nine tomorrow.
On the other table, Stephen Maguire established a 5-3 lead over Shaun Murphy as their second round battle got underway. Maguire missed out on the Crucible last season but came through qualifying this time and is now in the hunt for an eighth quarter-final.
The first four frames were shared, then Maguire went 3-2 up with a break of 68. The Scot was on 31 in the next when he was unlucky not to land on a red in splitting the pack. Murphy converted an excellent pot on a red to a centre pocket and made 57, then later took the last red for 3-3.
World number 28 Maguire dominated the seventh to regain the lead. In the last of the session, Murphy was on 25 when he missed a tricky blue to a baulk corner, and Maguire punished him with 72 to secure a lead going into Saturday morning's second session. They conclude on Sunday morning, with the winner to meet David Gilbert or Robert Milkins.