Judd trumps Dale to advance

Englishman pleased to make it through to the second round at the Crucible

Dominic Dale in action against Judd Trump during his first round match of the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible, Sheffield.  Photograph:  Simon Cooper/PA Wire
Dominic Dale in action against Judd Trump during his first round match of the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible, Sheffield. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA Wire

Judd Trump marched impressively through to the second round of the Betfair World Championship this morning.

The 2011 runner-up never looked in danger of joining the big-name casualties that the Crucible has seen in the opening four days of the tournament.

And on the morning of day five the 23-year-old demonstrated he is in the kind of form to cause damage, sealing a 10-5 win.

Trump fired in breaks of 104, 73 and 61 to scupper any hopes Dominic Dale had of fighting back from his overnight 6-3 deficit, although the beaten Welshman almost snatched the sizeable consolation of a 147 maximum break, only to miss the 13th red in the 14th frame.

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Dale snatched the opener after their 10am start but three in a row from Trump took him one frame away from a last-16 clash with Matthew Stevens or Marco Fu.

Dale then fired in his 96 break — 12 reds and blacks — as the £35,000 jackpot remained elusive when he rattled a long red around the jaws of the yellow pocket.

A chipped black ball had to be replaced at that stage before Trump polished off his win.

After early losses for John Higgins, Mark Williams, Mark Allen and, most surprisingly of all, Stephen Maguire, who lost to eccentric world number 70 Dechawat Poomjaeng last night, Trump was delighted to make it through without a scare.