Judd Trump left the commentators at the World Snooker Championship gobsmacked after the Englishman fluked an outrageous pot during his semi-final clash with Mark Williams. Trump, who is looking for his second-ever world title, has emerged as the favourite for the championship following his Crucible campaign so far.

It was during the game’s seventh frame when Trump sank the fortunate pot, somehow getting himself out of what looked like an impossible snooker to crack. Nestled behind the green ball at the top of the table, the 2019 world champion fired the cue ball off the top cushion, sending it flying toward a group of reds.

Remarkably, one of the reds that had been hit by the cue ball began hurtling towards the bottom right pocket, before falling in after rebounding off the jaws. The odds of Trump hitting a red were slim to begin with, let alone sinking one in such stunning fashion.

Understandably, the commentators were struggling for words, with John Virgo describing the move as “unbelievable”. He said: “He can't see a ball so it's down to the hit and hope [Trump then plays the shot...] Can you believe it? Can you believe it! That's snooker folks!"

Trump and three-time world champion Williams had been locked at three frames apiece when he pulled off the fluke shot, with ‘The Ace in the Pack’ going on to claim the frame. It set him up nicely for the final frame of the match, which he also took, giving himself a solid overnight lead of 5-3.

Reacting to the day’s play, snooker icon Steve Davis said during the BBC’s coverage: “It's difficult to get a grip on that first session. Judd found a way to be 5-3 in front. Mark won't be very happy. It was a bad session to lose and come out behind. Judd's got the springboard now to maybe open his arms a bit and show a bit of class. He's got the advantage and he's got the first crack at getting ahead of his opponent.”

Elsewhere at the Sheffield-based tournament, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong are both locked at 4-4 following the opening session. It was a topsy-turvy battle between two players at the opposite ends of their careers, with Zhao racing to a 2-0 lead before O’Sullivan pegged him back and took control of the tie. The Chinese potter, determined to have parity heading into Friday’s action, clawed himself back into the match with a gutsy final-frame win to tie the match at four each.