April 27th 2024.
Professional snooker player Judd Trump has made it clear that he has no interest in joining any breakaway tour. The 31-year-old, who is currently ranked second in the world, revealed that he was approached about joining a rival snooker tour but dismissed the suggestion immediately. With his focus on achieving more success, Trump is content with where he is and has no intention of making a move.
The rumors of a breakaway tour have been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with fellow snooker players Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan also commenting on the matter. However, World Snooker Tour (WST) chairman Barry Hearn has dismissed the speculation as a threat. While O'Sullivan has made it clear that he will not be joining any rival tour, he has shown his support for players who feel that their best opportunities lie elsewhere.
Trump, who is one of the biggest names in the sport, has made it clear that he has no interest in being a part of a rival tour. He is more than satisfied with the opportunities that are currently available to him, both in terms of playing and earning. In his own words, Trump needs "something with history, heritage, and those kind of venues" to keep him motivated. He also mentioned that he needs something to play for and that he wouldn't be motivated enough to participate in an exhibition series.
The world number two also shared that he wants to face the biggest challenges and is looking forward to playing in different places in the future. His main goal at the moment is to win every single tournament and regain his number one ranking. When asked about the approach he received about joining a rival tour, Trump said that he doesn't even know where it came from and that he wasn't interested in listening to it. He mentioned that he is currently in his prime and doesn't want to waste it on exhibition games.
The reported guaranteed fee of around £300,000 for joining a rival tour might be attractive to some players, but not to Trump. Despite winning over £700,000 in ranking events alone this season, he made it clear that winning titles is more important to him than just receiving a big paycheck. He emphasized that he would rather earn his money through hard work and feel a sense of achievement, rather than being handed it.
Trump believes that his parents would also be proud of him if he continues to win titles instead of joining a rival tour. He mentioned that he hates losing and couldn't imagine walking off and getting paid the same amount, regardless of whether he wins or loses a match. He also expressed his desire for World Snooker to increase prize money in the future, but he wants to continue playing for something meaningful.
With both Trump and O'Sullivan staying put, it is good news for the World Snooker Tour. Trump also believes that the idea of a split in the sport is not a major concern, as he doesn't think there are enough players or big enough names to make a significant impact. He mentioned that he and O'Sullivan are among the top players in the sport and as long as they are staying, the tour will remain strong.
Trump also commented on fellow player Mark Williams' recent remarks about potentially leaving the main tour. While he cannot fully understand Williams' position, he believes that the Welshman might regret his decision in the future. He also mentioned that he thinks Williams will ultimately decide to stay on the main tour. The two-time world champion also added that a lot of players say things in the heat of the moment and that he believes Williams' comments were made in that context.
In the second round of the World Championship, Trump beat Tom Ford 13-7, setting up a quarter-final clash with either Si Jiahui or Jak Jones. When asked if he has been approached by any rival tour, Ford, who is currently ranked 14th in the world, replied that he hasn't heard anything about it. He added that he will still be on the main tour next season. In other news, John Higgins has put pressure on Mark Allen ahead of their World Snooker Championship showdown, while Jack Lisowski has opened up about his "crazy gap year" from snooker.
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