Ronnie O’Sullivan continued his revival by overcoming Judd Trump for the first time in four meetings to reach the semi-finals of the Welsh Open in Newport, yesterday.

O’Sullivan triumphed 5-3 in a match of high quality against UK Championship winner Trump as he followed on from his success in the German Masters earlier in the month.

The Rocket looked full of confidence and highly motivated in becoming the first player to book his place in the last four.

O’Sullivan made Trump pay for missing a black with a superb 139 clearance to take a 3-2 lead when play resumed.

Trump pulled it back to 3-3 but O’Sullivan quickly moved to within one frame of the finishing line.

He compiled an initial 43 and then made Trump regret failing to convert a straightforward green.

It was over 15 minutes later as runs of 31 and 61 sealed the win for O’Sullivan.

The other afternoon match was also a close affair with Shaun Murphy edging out Mark Allen 5-4.

Murphy, in his fifth major ranking quarter-final of the season, led 3-1, with the help of a 98 in the fourth frame, but UK Champion-ship runner-up Allen responded after the interval.

He moved into a 4-3 lead with a 121 break in the fifth frame before Murphy ensured the match would go into a deciding frame.

A 70 break left Allen needing three snookers and, although he got two of them, Murphy edged over the finishing line.