We push each other – Judd Trump relishes rivalry with Kyren Wilson

Judd Trump is relishing the next chapter in his burgeoning rivalry with Kyren Wilson after the pair advanced to the semi-finals of the UK Championship in York on Friday.

Trump racked up four centuries and 527 unanswered runs in his 6-2 victory over Zhang Anda, while Wilson defeated the tournament’s surprise package, Michael Holt, 6-3.

Their victories set up a showdown on Saturday between the world’s two best players, the only ones to have banked more than £1 million each so far this season, and Trump hopes it will push him to new heights.

“I think it’s great for everyone that there are sort of two players who are achieving big things this season,” said Trump, who was beaten by Wilson in the finals in Xian and Belfast this season.

“If Kyren wasn’t there, then (my) lead at the top of the standings would be astronomical.

“You need someone on your heels to keep pushing you and keep you practicing.” We’re both trying to push each other right now.

The world number one was in unplayable form as he produced breaks of 89, 126, 120 and 131 in the first four frames to leave Zhang cemented in his chair.

Zhang briefly rallied with a century of his own, but Trump, 35, seeking his first British title since 2011, finished the job looking unrecognizable from the player who struggled in the first two rounds against Neil Robertson and John Higgins.

“I dodged a bullet against John and sometimes when that happens you feel like you have another life,” Trump added.

“I knew my form was not far off, but sometimes I was a little too wary. Today I felt much better than yesterday and the day before.

Wilson missed a 147 chance in the final frame of his comfortable victory over Holt, winning 12 reds and 11 blacks before missing the latter from his place.

But it was still a convincing display from the world champion, who raced into a 3-0 lead then held off a Holt comeback from 4-1 down to confirm his place in the last four for only the second time of his career.

Former champion Mark Allen will face Barry Hawkins in the second semi-final after the Antrim man held off a typically fiery challenge from Jack Lisowski to seal a 6-3 victory.

Lisowski’s performance was marked by superb potting and inexplicable misses as he built a 3-1 lead, including breaks of 114 and 88.

After Allen responded with three frames in a row, Lisowski missed two good chances to level at 4-4 and, despite a valiant attempt to prolong the match in the ninth frame when he got two of the required three snookers, it was the world number three who won.

Hawkins, winner of Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round, continued his fine form with a 6-2 victory over Shaun Murphy to reach the second British semi-final of his career.

Hawkins, who had been on the verge of defeat against David Gilbert in the second round when his opponent missed what would effectively have been a winning green, admitted: “I was sitting in my chair (Wednesday) wondering if I were going to go there. come home that evening or in the morning and suddenly I find myself at the table.

“I was in qualifying last week and all you want to do is get to the main venue. This is why you play.

Five half-centuries, including breaks of 80 and 82 to finish the job, saw Hawkins home and left Murphy defeated with no doubt about the magnitude of his opponent’s performance.

“If he plays like that, he’ll win,” Murphy said afterwards. “I think he’s currently playing the best of anyone left in the tournament.”