Liang Wenbo opens up two-frame lead over Judd Trump after first session

China's Wenbo - the world number 20 - opened with a break of 95 to claim the first frame after Trump had missed a black.

That quickly became 2-0 courtesy of another 95 from last year's UK Championship finalist Liang, but Trump, chasing back-to-back titles after his success at the European Masters last Sunday, quickly restored parity by winning the next two frames before the mid-session interval boosted by a 54 in the fourth frame.

Wenbo moved ahead by the odd frame in five courtesy of a 76 before a 92 sent him two clear again at 4-2.

A 51 in the seventh frame was not enough for world number three Trump to reduce the deficit as a double on the respotted black enabled Liang to move three frames clear for the first time.

He was in among the balls in the final frame of the afternoon, but he walloped the reds apart after missing a routine red before Trump pieced together a classy 52 to trail by two frames before this evening's closing session.

The first man to nine frames wins the English Open title and a first prize of £70,000.

There is also the distant prospect of a £1m bonus if the champion can add the Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open and Welsh Open to their name over the next five months as part of the Home Nations Series on Eurosport and Quest.