Judd Trump came from 3-1 down to beat Ding Junhui 6-3 and reach the semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Masters, a result which means he has set a new record for prize money in a single season, with four months of the 2024/25 campaign still to come.
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Clearly the man to beat at the biggest tournaments, world number one Trump has already won the Shanghai Masters, Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Victorian Plumbing UK Championship this season, and by reaching the last four at Alexandra Palace he is guaranteed £75,000 which brings his total to £1,295,200. That surpasses the previous record of £1,265,500, set last season by Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Motivated by glory rather than money, Trump's focus is firmly on winning the title this week in London and then his attention may turn to the World Championship as he continues his quest to become the first player to win all four majors in a single season. That would bring his prize money tally for the campaign past the £2 million mark.
Having played the best snooker of the tournament so far in the last five frames today, he will relish his next match against Kyren Wilson or Luca Brecel on Saturday night. The 35-year-old is two wins away from a third Masters crown having lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2023; only O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have won more.
China's Ding, the 2011 champion, started strongly with breaks of 70 and 74 to lead 2-0. Trump hit back with a run of 75 in the third and he was on 48 in frame four when he missed an awkward red to a top corner, Ding capitalising with a 72 clearance for 3-1.
After the interval the high scoring continued as Trump's 97 reduced his deficit. In the sixth, Ding had a golden scoring chance but on 35 he missed a short range red, playing with the rest. Trump made 53 and later trapped his opponent in a snooker on the last red, then potted it along the top cushion to square the match at 3-3. That proved the turning point as the Englishman raced through the last three frames with 125, 62 and 75 to reach the last four for the seventh time.
"Ding didn't do much wrong apart from the red he missed in the sixth frame, after that I played really well," said 2019 World Champion Trump. "I always believe I'm going to win, even if I'm 5-1 down. You need that kind of confidence to win these tournaments. The standard this week so far has been exceptional, there have been some spectacular performances. It's pleasing for snooker that the players can put on a show like this, it's in safe hands.
"I'm on track for my best season although I won six events in a season (in 2019/20) which was special. The magnitude of the tournaments I have won this time makes it more special, and also the standard I have been able to produce."
Ding said: "I started well but missed some shots and Judd got more confidence. After that he made a lot of big breaks. The red in the sixth frame was careless, I was thinking about position and missed the pot. It's going to happen sometimes. Judd always takes his chances."
Trump: Snooker's In Safe Hands