Judd Trump battles against sickness and Pang Junxu to advance at UK Championship

The 34-year-old is the latest top star to arrive at the tournament suffering the apparent effects of flu, after Ding Junhui considered withdrawal before edging defending champion Mark Allen on the opening day.

But Trump, who became only the fifth player in history to win three back-to-back ranking tournaments last month, indicated that pulling out was not an option as he targets a title that has eluded him since a solitary success in 2011.

“I didn’t feel great, but I’m always going to turn up and give it my best,” said Trump, who fears he caught the bug after attending rival Ronnie O’Sullivan’s documentary premiere in London last week.

“It’s a big tournament and you obviously want to do well in it. Maybe I had slightly lower expectations, and maybe that helped a bit. It was a decent first-round performance and hopefully I can go away and get a bit better.”

Two centuries suggested Trump was showing few ill effects against the world number 34, who had given O’Sullivan something to think about in the opening round of the World Championship earlier this year.

And Trump’s determination comes in stark contrast to reigning Crucible champion Luca Brecel, who conceded he was having to find novel ways to maintain his motivation through the current campaign.

“I just love winning,” added Trump. “I absolutely hate the feeling of losing so that’s what spurs me on. I don’t want to look back at the end of my career having missed events or not practised much.

“We get enough time off in the off-season, so when it comes to the season itself I might as well work and give it my absolute all, and win as many tournaments as possible.

“I went through a two- or three-year period of winning pretty much everything, then I went through a spell when I was still half-decent but not as good.

“The feeling of going home every time without the trophy was absolutely horrendous. For me, winning surpasses everything and there’s no better feeling than going home knowing you haven’t lost.”

Mark Selby wasted no time joining Trump in the last 16 as he produced four half-centuries in a thoroughly one-sided 6-0 whitewash of qualifier Mark Joyce.

Selby’s form suggests he is in a good place to add to his two previous UK titles, and end a disappointing run of form in the tournament which has seen him reach the quarter-finals just once since his last win in 2016.

“It looks easy on paper but I felt like it was easier for me because I played well and didn’t do much wrong,” said Selby. “The only thing missing was a century and other than that I can’t complain.

“It’s a tough tournament and I’ve put more pressure on myself than anyone because it’s triple crown event and you want to do well. I’ve got the expectation because I’ve been here and won, and it would be nice to be there again.”

Selby will face Barry Hawkins, with whom he is sharing a flat in York this week, in the last 16 after the world number 12 recovered from a 3-1 deficit to edge past qualifier Ben Woollaston 6-4.

Jack Lisowski’s wait for a first ranking title win continues after the 13th seed was beaten 6-4 by Jamie Jones, a break of 67 in the 10th frame proving enough to nudge the Welshman over the line after a scrappy encounter.

READ MORE: Luca Brecel battles into last 16 of UK Championship