Trump triumphs over Cope

SHEFFIELD // The teenager Judd Trump is just three wins away from a Wembley Masters wild card after beating Jamie Cope 5-2 in a thrilling contest at the Sheffield Institute of Sport. The 18 year old from from Bristol now faces China's Jin Long for a place in the semi-finals. Trump nicked the first frame on the colours then added the second with a break of 78. Cope was first among the balls in frame three with a 57, but Trump cleared with 70 to go 3-0 ahead.

Cope won two of the next three with 120 and 75, before Royal London Watches Grand Prix semi-finalist Trump knocked in a 75 to secure victory. Matthew Stevens, the 2000 Masters champion who reached the final of the recent Bahrain Championship, earned his quarter-final place with a 5-2 defeat of Ricky Walden. Stevens' top breaks were 58 and 78 as he earned a meeting with Fergal O'Brien, a 5-4 winner over Daniel Wells.

Two-times Masters finalist Ken Doherty kept his run going with a 5-3 victory over Ian McCulloch. The Irishman now plays Stuart Bingham. The other quarter-final will see Andrew Higginson face Mark Joyce. He had a top break of 132 defeating Gerard Greene 5-2. [e-mail]