2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: Judd Trump to play Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals

World number one Trump reached his ninth ranking event semi-final inside just 11 months after seeing off a resurgent and rallying Neil Robertson, 6-3.

A fascinating career rivalry which has featured several epic finals, it was the first time that Trump and Robertson had met each other in a ranking event in over two-and-a-half years.

Trump took control early on, establishing a 3-0 lead with a break of exactly 100 in frame three. That latest century was the 997th of his professional career, and his fast start meant that he had won 14 of his last 15 frames in the tournament.

It appeared as if Trump was on course for 4-0 in frame four, but whilst 44-0 up in points, he overran position for the black. That error became a turning point and the opening Robertson needed as he ultimately took the frame on the colours to get on the scoreboard and go into the mid-session interval on a positive note.

On resumption, the Australian - who is aiming to return to the world's top 16 - made a 77 break in frame five to reduce his deficit to just one.

Trump rebuilt a two-frame cushion as an effort of 67 in frame six assisted him to a 4-2 lead, but an in-off in the next frame proved costly as Robertson constructed a brilliant 101 clearance for 4-3.

Pouncing on a missed pot on a long red from his opponent at the start of frame eight, Robertson compiled a 44, but seemingly got a kick when attempting to pot a long blue into the green pocket. Just like in frame four when the score was 44-0, this incident became a reference point as a resilient Trump stepped up and crafted a counter break of 77 to restore daylight. The 28-time ranking event champion then secured his passage through by winning frame nine.

Guaranteed another six-figure figure payday for making the last four, it seems a long time ago when Trump trailed Wu Yize 4-0 in a race to five during his opening match on Tuesday at the Green Halls.

On table two, Murphy advanced to the final four after he ended the run of world number 35 Xiao Guodong, 6-2.

Xiao - who was already assured of the biggest payday of his career, so far, - won the opening frame with the help of a 55 break. Murphy claimed the next two, but Xiao compiled a run of 108 in frame four to level up at 2-2.

However, after the mid-session interval, it was one-way traffic as Murphy strung together the next four frames, with his highest break of the match, and his only half-century of the day, a 61, coming in frame eight.

This is the first instance in over a year that 12-time ranking event winner Murphy has got into the last four of a ranking event. It is a timely run for 'The Magician' who has lots of prize money ranking points to defend later this season. Despite coming into the tournament seventh in the world rankings, Murphy was 24th on the provisional end-of-season list.

Trump and Murphy’s best of 11 frames semi-final in Riyadh begins just after 12:00BST.

For the draw, results and other important details, please visit our 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters Tournament Information Centre, here.