Zhao Xintong secures statement win to knock defending champion Judd Trump out of German Masters and reach semi-finals

Judd Trump’s bid for a hat-trick of German Masters titles came to a halt at the hands of Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals. Trump has been imperious in the event for the past couple of years and served notice of his intent with a 5-0 mauling of Zhou Yuelong. Ad/> But 24 hours on, he came across a player high on confidence following his breakthrough win at the top of the sport in the UK Championship.

German MastersTrump blows away Zhou to reach German Masters quarter-finalsYESTERDAY AT 21:03 He scored heavily when in the balls and held his nerve to beat one of the game’s elite players 5-1 at the Tempodrom in Berlin. Selby will take time away from snooker if pressures impact on mental health O'Sullivan to miss Turkish Masters, but who does Trump face at inaugural ranking event? Zhao opened with a 57 before running out of position, but a good snooker fashioned a second chance which he took to wrap up the opener The UK champion’s potting is out of the top drawer, but he showed his match-play qualities in getting over the line against Mark Williams in round one. In the second round, it was a potting masterclass in his win over Tom Ford, and he kicked off in that manner against Trump.

Another 57 followed in the second, before running out of position and inexplicably fouling a black. Trump did not take the surprise opening, and Zhao was able to shake off the mistake to double his lead. For the third frame in a row, Zhao knocked in a half-century only to break down.