Judd Trump became the fourth player in Crucible history to make five centuries in a first round tie as he raced to a 10-4 defeat of Zhou Yuelong at the Halo World Championship.
Trump fired runs of 117, 113, 114, 114 and 100 as he joined Ronnie O'Sullivan, Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen as the only players to score five tons in the opening round. Three of those came in consecutive frames, a feat only previously achieved by O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Stuart Carrington. There have been several excellent first round performances in recent days but this was a reminder from the world number one that he could be the man to beat.
The left-hander is closing in on a £100,000 bonus awarded to the first player to make 100 centuries this season. His tally for 2024/25 is now 98, needing just two more to secure that bumper payout, and Robertson's record of 103 centuries in a season, set in 2013/14, is well within his grasp.
Bristol's 35-year-old Trump is into the last 16 in Sheffield for the 13th time and will meet Shaun Murphy in the pick of the second round ties. Champion in 2019, he is looking for a second world title which would cement his status as one of snooker's all-time greats. Trump has had an outstanding season, highlighted by victories at the Shanghai Masters, Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Victorian Plumbing UK Championship and has already broken to record for the most prize money earned in a single campaign, a sum which would top £2 million if he banks the centuries bonus and the first prize.
Trump led 6-3 after the first session having made breaks of 91, 63, 52, 117, 62 and 54. Within 32 minutes tonight it was 9-3 as he fired runs of 113, 114, 114. China's Zhou pulled one back but after the interval Trump wrapped it up with a break of 100.
"I felt a bit edgy at the start but then settled down and felt confident," said Trump. "My long potting was good and my safety was even better. I don't think I have played that well in the first round before. The money (for the 100 centuries) doesn't really come into it, we are competitive animals and I just want to make century after century, even if there was no prize. There would be no better place to do it than here. Hopefully I can get it out of the way early in my next match. The standard seems to be going up, the pockets aren't playing big, they are a good size, but it shows how high the skill level is.
"Shaun Murphy looked superb in his first game. Winning the Masters was one of the best performances of his career. He plays with a lot of confidence, if he gets ahead then he walks around like he owns the place, he has that mentality. He goes for his shots and if they go in there is not much you can do. I will have to play like I did today to have a chance."
Meanwhile, four-time champion Mark Selby came from 4-2 down to take a 5-4 overnight lead over Ben Woollaston in a Leicester derby. They return at 7pm on Thursday and first to ten frames will meet Si Jiahui in round two.
Selby opened with a break of 100 but then friend Woollaston made 84 and 76 to take the lead before winning the fourth on the colours for 3-1. In the fifth, Woollaston missed a tough long pot on the final pink to a baulk corner and Selby took advantage to halve the gap, but Woollaston then made a superb clearance from last red to pink in the sixth for 4-2. Selby looked in trouble at that point, but found an extra gear when he needed it, taking the last three frames with top runs of 79 and 135.