• Welsh Open

Trump stops Advani from more history making

Judd Trump is through to the semi-finals of the Welsh Open © PA Photos

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The upsetting of snooker's top players by eight-time billiards world champion Pankaj Advani was ended by England's Judd Trump with a 5-2 defeat at the Welsh Open.

In reaching the quarter-finals Advani became the first Indian to make the last-eight of a world ranking tournament but he could go no further after meeting the improving Bristolian.

He even had to fight to save face against the world No. 2 when he was 4-0 down. But his rally showed his class and it included a turnaround from 59-1 down in the sixth frame.

Advani, 27, had already claimed the scalps of Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy in Newport and Trump's early exit at the UK Championship hinted he was susceptible to being added to that list. But the 23-year-old looks more resolute at the baize than he did in December and he said his improvements had come from going back to the practice table.

"Going out early in the last few tournaments means I have had a to do a lot of practice on my own, so it is nice to get some match practice," Trump said. "It is pleasing that my safety is competing well against the top players because my scoring hasn't been that great this week.

"Normally near the end of a frame I go on to clear up but I am nowhere near as confident as I was before Christmas."

Trump will now face Scotsman Stephen Maguire after the world No. 6 beat compatriot Alan McManus 5-3.

Ken Doherty's fast start against Stuart Bingham proved to be a false indicator for who would pass to semi-finals as the Irishman lost 5-3 after leading 2-0.

Doherty started with an 88 break in the first frame and he doubled his lead by coming out on top in a safety battle in the second. Had he not blown a chance to take a 3-1 lead, by missing the brown, Doherty may have maintained his momentum but Bingham levelled the match and kicked on far more assuredly after the mid-session interval.

Doherty, 43, did take the fifth frame but after that it was all Bingham as the Essex man booked himself a last-four tie with defending champion Ding Junhui after the Chinaman crushed Englishman Robert Milkins 5-1.

The semi-finals will be the best of 11 frames with the final the best of 17.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.