STEPHEN Lee reached his fourth semi final in five ranking events by ousting defending champion Judd Trump from the Bank of Beijing China Open this morning.
The in-form Trowbridge player clinched a 5-3 victory over last year's world championship finalist to move into the last four.
Lee trailed 2-0 early on, but fought back brilliantly with two century breaks and stormed 4-2 in front. Trump clinched a see-saw seventh frame, before Lee wrapped up a semi final place with a break of 96 in the eighth.
The Wiltshire player, ranked 11th in the world, has been in spectacular form this spring, reaching the semi finals of the German Masters, the last eight at the Welsh Open and making the final of the Haikou World Open in China in recent weeks.
He ended his six-year wait for a ranking title at the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Ireland 12 days ago.
Lee will face world number nine Stephen Maguire, who defeated three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sulliven 5-4 this morning, in tomorrow's semi final.
MORE UPDATES ON LEE'S PROGRESS IN CHINA AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN NEXT FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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