Judd Trump is in confident mood ahead of his Masters quarter-final with Ronnie O’Sullivan, but admits he will have to raise his game to reach the last four (Snooker – The Masters matches – O’Sullivan 8/11, Trump EVS).

Trump booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a relatively straightforward 6-3 victory over Stuart Bingham, while O’Sullivan overcame defending champion Ding Junhui 6-4.

The 22-year-old from Bristol has previously admitted that O’Sullivan was his idol, but it would seem as if any fear-factor he may have held ahead of a showdown with the four-time Masters champion has long since gone (1st Mini Session (Frames 1 To 4) Winner – O’Sullivan 13/8, draw 6/4, Trump 2/1))

“The first time I played Ronnie I was scared. But these days he is just another player in my way to the title,” said Trump.

“You have to savour these matches, especially when you never know how much longer he’s got left in the game. You have to enjoy every moment and we seem to be drawing each other a lot just now.”

Trump managed to get the better of O’Sullivan at their last meeting en route to his UK Championship success in York. In that particular tie neither player managed to produce their best snooker and the UK and China Open champion admits he will have to improve on his performance against Bingham if he is to see off ‘the Rocket’ at the Alexandra Palace on Thursday.

He added: “Against Stuart I played OK, but there were too many errors and I will need to play 50 per cent better to beat Ronnie.”