Stuart Bingham. Picture by Monique Limbos

STUART BINGHAM remained on top in the second World Championship semi-final against Judd Trump following a topsy turvy session on Friday afternoon.

The Basildon star leads Trump 9-7 after both players shared the session’s eight frames in an intriguing match which has seen momentum swing from one player to the other.

The pair resume battle on Saturday morning with Trump, the bookies favourite for the title,  looking to do something he was unable to do today – wipe off Bingham’s lead.

But judging by this semi-final so far that won’t be easy to do as just when it looks like Trump has a foot on the match – Bingham responds to maintain pole position.

Bingham produced a great start to the afternoon session as a break of 52 helped him to a 6-3 lead.

But the second frame saw Trump back to his best with a break of 113 before he clawed his way back to just a single frame behind when a miss on a red from Bingham while 54-0 in front was wiped out by this season’s World Grand Prix winner with a clearance of 63.

However, Trump’s hopes of levelling the scores prior to the interval came to no avail as Bingham hit a break of 67 after Trump missed the black off its spot early in the frame.

Back to two frames in front, Bingham then pulled away again after the restart winning a scrappy 13th frame to go 8-5 up.

Bingham also had his moments in frame 14 but a close frame was decided with a brilliant long yellow from Trump to reduce his arrears to 8-6 – only for Bingham to restore a three-frame lead going into the session final frame with a break of 85.

But Trump dug deep and avoided a potential four frame overnight deficit with a break of 64.

Going into the third session, it is still very much to play for.