Robertson aims to turn a blind eye to talented Trump

Both Trump and Robertson cruised to impressive quarter-final wins at the York Barbican on adjoining tables to set-up a mouth-watering last-four shoot-out today.

The 2010 world champion – who watched in awe as Trump blitzed Stephen Maguire 6-3 – claims he could try to combat the swashbuckling style of the 22-year-old by actually refusing to watch his opponent at the table.

“Judd is unpredictable, whereas with Ding you know every shot he is going to take,” said 29-year-old Australian Robertson, after a 6-2 win over Sheffield-based Ding Junhui. “You don’t know what Judd is going to do, you’re almost better off not looking at the table when he is going to take on a crazy red, it’s not nice watching a low percentage shot fly in and he makes a century.

“Both Judd and I played fantastic, he probably played a bit better scoring three centuries. I was just as pleased with my performance though, as Ding is one of the best players in the world.”

Trump reeled off breaks of 106, 106 and 120 to beat 2004 UK champion Maguire 6-3, and Robertson believes the youngster – who shot to prominence this year by winning the China Open and reaching the final of the World Championship with his trademark adventurous long potting – is a role model for young players.

Trump has created an image of fast cars and a party lifestyle, but Robertson believes that does not get in the way of the Bristol-born player’s sporting ability.

“He has about six or seven years on me, I am the older guy for a change, but he is a fantastic player,” said Robertson, who has never lost a final in eight tournament climaxes. “It’s really good to see a young, promising player coming through and it doesn’t seem like he wants to go out partying all the time and waste it.

“It’s well publicised he does go out, but that’s away from the tournaments when there’s a good break. He won’t be going on the lash tonight, put it that way.

“There are some promising talents in the game, but you see some of these kids the same age as Judd who have got a lot of ability, they treat the PTCs like a stag do. It’s unbelievable. Judd doesn’t and he does really well.

“Judd is a role model to the younger players.”

Ding and Robertson had been locked at 2-2, Ding knocking in a 62 with the left-hander replying with a 101 before he ran away with the match taking four quickfire frames after the break to reach his first UK Championship semi-final.

Ding – who would have cost the sponsors £100,000 in pay-outs if he had won Sunday’s final – criticised the shortened format at York, the quarter-final being a best-of-11 frame contest. With the likes of John Higgins, the UK and world champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan and world No 1 Mark Selby making early exits, the tournament has yielded some high-profile victims.

Trump believes he will have to improve his safety play if he is to reach Sunday’s final.

“I didn’t feel brilliant out there, I am just glad to win again,” said Trump. “After the interval my break-building was a lot better and I was able to create my own chances and score heavy off them.

“I am still a long way off my best form, there’s a lot I need to work on, especially my safety. The frames I am losing, I am more or less giving them away.”

Last night, Ricky Walden beat former world champion Shaun Murphy 6-3 to reach the last four of the tournament for the first time in his career.