Judd Trump reached the quarter-finals of the Halo World Championship for the 11th time with an exciting 13-10 victory over Shaun Murphy, who described him as the overwhelming favourite for the title.
Murphy had the Crucible crowd on the edge of their seats with a thrilling recovery from 12-6 down to 12-10, but a missed red early in frame 23 ended his hopes of a career-best fight-back. World number one Trump goes into the last eight and will meet Luca Brecel next if the Belgian takes the one frame he needs against Ding Junhui tonight.
Champion in 2019, Trump hopes to join the small group of just six players to lift the trophy in Sheffield more than once. With 30 ranking titles to his name, two UK Championship and two Masters crowns and over 1,000 centuries, he is one of the sport's most decorated players, but another Crucible success would put beyond doubt Trump's position in the pantheon of all-time greats.
This fantastic contest included four centuries and 16 more breaks over 50, as well as the moment when Trump recorded his 100th ton of the season, earning a £100,000 bonus. Murphy said afterwards: "If Judd sustains that level of performance, he will win the tournament, without question."
Trump, age 35, has lost five of his previous ten quarter-finals, including a shock reverse against Jak Jones last year, and will hope to improve that record when he battles Brecel or Ding over 25 frames on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Leading 10-6 coming into the concluding session, Trump got the better of the opening frame today by winning a safety battle on the final yellow, trapping Murphy in a snooker and taking the chance that followed to go five frames clear. A break of 86 made it 12-6, before Murphy stormed back with 88, 72, 112 and 99 to reduce the gap to 12-10.
World number 15 Murphy, champion in 2005, had first chance in frame 21 but made only 6 before missing a mid-range red to a top corner. Trump converted a long red to set up a run of 58, and Murphy's last opportunity to counter ended with an under-cut red to centre.
"It was an extremely difficult draw, before the tournament it was the stand out tie that everyone was looking at, if we both got through the first round," said Trump. "You don't really want to be putting in so much effort to get to a quarter-final. But I take a lot of confidence from beating Shaun in that way.
"I expected him to throw a barrage of breaks at me at the end. When he gets going, there is probably no player like him, the confidence he exudes, it can be very intimidating. I had to compose myself, I didn't want to go 12-11 or 12-12 against someone with that much confidence, with the crowd behind him. So in the end it was tremendous to get over the line.
"Luca is playing really well, I know what he is capable of. If I play him my safety will need to be good enough to keep him out. I'll need all of my experience. There are some incredible match-ups in the quarter-finals. John Higgins and Mark Williams is an absolute classic. It is turning into a great tournament and hopefully it will keep getting better."
Looking back on the moment he achieved the century of centuries on Sunday night, Trump added: "The crowd put on an amazing reception, I was a bit embarrassed to take the applause! To achieve it here at the Crucible was so special. But at that moment I knew I was in such a tough game, it was difficult to celebrate. I knew I had to win that last frame of the session to go 10-6 up. Now that's done, I can just concentrate on the tournament because it's going to be a real battle over the next week."
Murphy said: "It's frustrating because that's the best I have ever played here and lost. I don't think anyone has played as well as Judd and I over a long distance this year. There have been a lot of times this season when my opponent has played out of his boots. If I'd had more chances I felt I would have taken them. But I watched two and half sessions of Judd Trump magic.
"Every credit to Judd for the 100 centuries and winning the bonus. When it was first announced I called it 'the Judd Trump and Neil Robertson award' because they make so many centuries. I wanted to have a crack at it myself and I've had a good season but only made 58 which shows how good Judd has been.
"I feel to some degree I am playing the best snooker of my life. Winning the Masters this season was huge. But it will take me a few weeks to get over this defeat."