LONDON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- World No. 3 Judd Trump beat 2015 champion Shaun Murphy while two-time winner John Higgins defeated Ryan Day in the quarterfinals of the Masters snooker tournament here on Friday.

Trump, who entered the last four previously in 2012 and 2016, won 6-4 at Alexandra Palace and set up a semifinal match with Kyren Wilson on Saturday afternoon. He is aiming to make the final for the first time.

Higgins, who won the title in 1999 and 2006, moved into the semifinals with a 6-1 victory over Ryan Day, who levelled the score at 1-1 with a break of 83 before Higgins took control.

The 42-year-old Scot will play Northern Ireland's Mark Allen, who beat 2017 champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-1 in their quarterfinal on Thursday.