• Players Championship

Trump and in-form Fu reach Preston last four

Judd Trump played out a high quality match against Joe Perry © PA Photos

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Judd Trump has paid tribute to his safety game as he enjoyed a 4-2 triumph against Joe Perry to reach the last four of the Players Championship Grand Final in Preston.

In what was a high quality match at the Guild Hall, Trump took the opening frame with a fine 89 before Perry regained the advantage with two impressive century breaks of 133 and 121.

However, the world No.6 held firm with visits of 86 and 71 to move within a frame of victory, before capitalising with a match-winning clearance after Perry missed a difficult pot while on 56 in the sixth. He now faces Barry Hawkins, who prevailed against Ronnie O'Sullivan's conqueror Yu de Lu with a 4-1 victory.

"It was a good standard, we both made a lot of breaks," Trump told worldsnooker.com. "My safety was good towards the end and I pulled out a good clearance. Joe played really well but it's happened to me a lot this season where your opponent hardly misses - especially in the last few tournaments. Some days you play well and still lose and it is frustrating, but it's part of the game now.

"I'm in the semis and it's not a bad place to be. It's not going to be an easy game whoever I play tomorrow. Barry Hawkins is playing probably the best he's ever played at the moment, people still underestimate him."

Gerard Greene continued his remarkable form with 4-2 win over Mark Allen, in which he top scored with a 51 break. Greene came back from 3-0 down to defeat Anthony Hamilton 4-3 in their last eight tie on Thursday and will now play the in-form Marco Fu after the Hong Kong player saw off four-time world champion John Higgins.

Fu hit breaks of 87, 79,75 and 66 in response to a century of 111 from Higgins to book his semi-final spot with a 4-1 win.

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