- Judd Trump has rejected an invitation to join a rival snooker tour, emphasizing his commitment to the World Snooker Tour and his preference for competitive play over exhibition series.
- Trump values the history and heritage of snooker, believing that the sport’s biggest names are not enough to make a breakaway tour viable.
- He prefers to earn his money through competition rather than receiving guaranteed sign-on fees, reflecting his financial priorities and desire for a competitive edge.
- The decision by Ronnie O’Sullivan to commit to playing in World Snooker Tour events in Saudi Arabia has influenced Trump’s perspective, making it difficult for players to commit to both the WST and the rival tour.
Newsypeople- Judd Trump, the 2019 World Snooker Champion, has turned down an invitation to participate in a rival snooker tour, revealing his rejection after advancing to the quarter-finals of the World Championship with a 13-7 victory over Tom Ford at the Crucible. The rival tour, understood to be a LIV-style breakaway originating from East Asia, requires players to commit to eight regular events plus a grand final in exchange for a six-figure sign-on fee.
Trump expressed his lack of interest in this prospective tour, stating, “A few people have tried to contact me and I just couldn’t be bothered. If they try to contact me or my brother I just tell them to go away. I’m very happy where I am, with the tournaments I play in. I need something with history and heritage. I need something to play for. I don’t think I would really get out of bed for an exhibition series”.
Trump’s decision comes amidst a broader context where Ronnie O’Sullivan has effectively ruled himself out of any parallel tour by signing a deal to play in World Snooker Tour events in Saudi Arabia for the next three years. This move, coupled with the World Snooker Tour’s recent relaxation of rules allowing contracted players to appear in other events without clashing with its own, makes committing to both impossible.
Trump, who has been contacted via his brother Jack, believes that without the sport’s biggest names, the threatened breakaway is already redundant. He expressed confidence in the strength of the World Snooker Tour, stating, “I don’t think there’s enough players or enough names that could do damage. I think Ronnie is the only one if he left – to be honest, I don’t think people are that bothered by anyone else. I feel like with what I’ve established in the game alongside Ronnie, if I’m staying here then the tour will be a strong place”.
Trump’s focus remains on the titles and the thrill of competition, expressing a preference for earning his money through victories rather than receiving it as a gift. He emphasized the importance of playing in tournaments with something on the line, stating, “For me it’s about the titles.
At the end of the day everyone wants more money but this isn’t the right time for me. I’d be a lot happier winning my money rather than getting gifted it. I love playing in the kind of tournament with something on the line. I don’t want to lose and feel nothing. I hate losing. I couldn’t imagine walking off and getting paid the same, win or lose. It’s not the same for me”.
Trump’s performance in the World Championship has been described as average, with him dealing with the heavy table conditions and staying patient. He sealed his place in the last eight for the 10th time in his career with a 13-7 win over Tom Ford, firing breaks of 107 and 84. Trump will face either Jak Jones or Si Jiahui in the next round, aiming to win every tournament and regain his position as number one.
