Trump Ready For Ding Test
Trump has reached five finals this season and won two titles
Judd Trump came through a last 16 tie with Marco Fu at the Betfred World Championship, winning 13-8 to set up a potentially epic quarter-final clash with another Asian star, Ding Junhui.
Bristol’s Trump built a 10-6 lead in the first two sessions with top breaks of 75, 80, 66, 111 and 75. Hong Kong’s Fu pulled one back today with a 94 but left-hander Trump took the next two with a top run of 59. Frame 20 went to Fu for 12-8, but in the first frame after the mid-session interval, Trump completed victory in style with a 133 total clearance, delighting the Crucible crowd with a few exhibition shots at the end of the break.
Trump now meets China’s Ding in a repeat of their 2011 semi-final , which Trump won 17-15 before losing to John Higgins in the final. The player nicknamed the Ace has two titles under his his belt this season  – the Australian Goldfields Open and World Grand Prix – and is clearly confident of his chances of going all the way to snooker’s biggest prize.
“My game is there, if I continue to play like that I’ll be tough to beat,” said the 25-year-old. “I’m very happy with how I’m playing and my appetite to win is as strong as anyone’s, though you always need a but of luck to win tournaments.
“Ding has played ok, although maybe his opponents have made him look good. We will both be confident. We had a great game in 2011, both scoring heavily.
We’re both older now and more mature but it will be tough to play to that standard again, back then we were young and fearless. Maybe this time it will be a bit tighter, a bit edgier. Whoever wants it the most will win.
As for his match against Fu, Trump added: “When Marco was 9-3 down he changed his game plan and started to go for his shots, but I knew I would get chances in the end. It’s nice to be out there and enjoying it.”