Ailing Trump sinks Ding at World Snooker Championship

Judd Trump overcame illness to secure a berth in the World Championship semi-finals on Wednesday after completing a one-sided 13-4 victory over China's Ding Junhui in Sheffield.

Picking up after establishing a 12-4 overnight lead, world number six Trump -- a runner-up in 2011 -- produced a break of 66 to end Ding's interest in the competition before mid-morning.

Trump will now face either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Stuart Bingham, with the latter 5-3 up ahead of the resumption of their quarter-final at the Crucible Theatre later on Wednesday.

Trump has been battling illness this week and said after the match: "I felt ill before the game, so I was a bit worried about how I was going to play and how my concentration was going to be.

"It was a bit iffy in the middle of the match. I missed a few and got quite tired. I haven't been sleeping that well so I just need to go and rest up now for the next game.

"It's just a bit of a fever, I think, a bit of a cold. I just don't feel too great. I'll go and rest up now and I should be fine for tomorrow (Thursday)."

Tournament organisers World Snooker, meanwhile,  have confirmed that O'Sullivan will face no punishment after resting his chalk on the table while lining up a shot against Bingham on Tuesday.

The five-time world champion, who played part of a frame in his socks earlier in the tournament and was warned for making a hand gesture during his second-round win over Matthew Stevens, could have incurred a seven-point penalty for the infringement.

But referee Terry Camilleri decided not to call a foul and a tournament spokesman said that no retrospective action would be taken.

Commenting on the incident, Trump said: "I don't think he knew what he was doing. I didn't have a clue about the rules either, so I don't really think it was anyone's fault."

England's Barry Hawkins led 7-5 over Australia's Neil Robertson in their quarter-final, while Shaun Murphy is 9-7 up against Scottish qualifier Anthony McGill ahead of the resumption of their tie.
Source: AFP