World number one Judd Trump fell just short of Ronnie O'Sullivan's record for unanswered points during a 6-2 defeat of former International Champion Zhang Anda at the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.
The Ace in the Pack blitzed clear of Zhang this afternoon with a devastating barrage of breaks to take the opening five frames. Contributions of 89, 126, 120, 131 and 61 saw him rack up 527 points without reply on his way to a 5-0 lead. Zhang eventually potted a red in the fifth, when he ironically punched the air with joy.
The relentless burst from the Ace in the Pack saw him fall just 29 points short of O'Sullivan's all-time record of 556, which he registered during a clash with Ricky Walden at the 2014 Masters. Trump came even closer to Stuart's Bingham's record for ranking events, which stands at 547 from his match with Sam Baird at the 2016 China Open.
Zhang got his first frame on the board in the sixth, before a run of exactly 100 made it 5-2. He came from 5-1 down to Bingham to win 6-5 in the second round, but Trump quickly saw off any threat of a fightback this afternoon. A dazzling 120 in the eighth saw him over the line for an impressive victory.
That puts Trump through to the fifth UK Championship semi-final of his career, where he will face either World Champion Kyren Wilson or returning professional Michael Holt. The 29-time ranking event winner will be hoping to secure his first UK crown since 2011, when he sensationally burst into the Triple Crown winner's circle here in York as a 22-year-old with a win over Mark Allen in the final.
"I didn't even think at the time that he hadn't scored a point. I was just so in the zone. It was coming very naturally to me. I was very disappointed when I missed as I just wanted to keep potting. In the end, I managed to make a really good break in the last frame as well," said 35-year-old Trump.
"It was important to get in quickly in the first frame and stamp my authority on the game. That is something that I haven't done in the first couple of matches. There was a difference with how I felt in the first frame and from then on I never looked back.
"I can't play much better than that I barely missed a ball. It is probably my best performance of all season. It is nice to produce that in such a big event. It isn't often that you play your best in the biggest tournaments. It is nice to know I've still got it and I can keep improving."
On the other table, Barry Hawkins produced a tremendous performance to defeat 2008 UK Champion Shaun Murphy 6-2.
The Hawk is hunting a maiden Triple Crown title, having been runner-up in two Masters finals and the 2013 World Championship.
Hawkins has enjoyed an impressive week so far here in York. He defeated defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the opening round and edged to a 6-5 defeat of David Gilbert in round two.
This afternoon saw Hawkins compose breaks of 63, 69, 91, 80 and 82 on his way to victory. He now faces either Mark Allen or Jack Lisowski in the last four.
Hawkins said: "It doesn't happen very good but when you are hitting the ball that well it is a nice feeling. Sometimes it is an absolute nightmare out there. I'm very pleased and I'll try to take it forward if I can and keep going.
"I've played well every match and I haven't done that for a while. I've had a good one then a bad one. Going on that form I'd say I'm close to my best."