Judd Trump brushed aside the challenge of defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan with an impressive display in last night's PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker clash.

O'Sullivan knew a victory would secure a top-four finish at the end of the league phase and a spot in the-semi-finals, but it was not to be as Trump raced into an unassailable 4-1 lead in the best-of-six frames encounter.

Keynsham potter Trump, 20, who qualified for the tournament by winning the Championship League Snooker competition earlier this year, had already beaten Marco Fu and Stephen Hendry in this year's league and started well, winning the opening frame. He missed a red with the rest to lose out on a £1,000 bonus for a century break, though.

O'Sullivan registered scores of 48 and 44 to level the match at 1-1 as Trump was left to rue a missed pot at the pink after a bad kick when playing his previous shot.

Trump fought back with a well-crafted break of 79 to regain the lead at 2-1. However, just as in the first frame, he passed up the opportunity to claim a century bonus as there were still four reds left on the table.

Trump kept up the pace to claim the following two frames and secure victory over a shell-shocked O'Sulliavn, taking the two points on offer in the process.