January 21st 2025.
Judd Trump, the two-time Masters champion, recently faced a defeat in his attempt to secure a third title at the prestigious event. Despite the loss, he did not dwell on it for too long and instead, brushed it off as an off day. In fact, he was back at the table on Monday, ready to compete again.
The semi-final match between Trump and Kyren Wilson at the Alexandra Palace was highly anticipated, considering their ongoing rivalry for the top spot in the world of snooker. However, it was Wilson who emerged victorious with a 6-3 win, causing somewhat of an upset. While Trump was the favorite to win, it was not a complete surprise as Wilson had already beaten him in two major finals earlier in the season.
But Trump is not one to mope around after a loss. He was back in action on Monday at the Championship League Group Five, winning all four of his matches. In an interview with Metro, he shared that he would rather be out and about, competing in Leicester, than staying at home feeling down. He also acknowledged that he wasn't at his best during the semi-final match against Wilson, but he understands that peak performance cannot be achieved constantly. Despite not playing his best, he could have still won the match.
Reflecting on the semi-final match, Trump admitted that he felt a bit flat during the game. While he started off strong, taking a 3-2 lead, he couldn't maintain it and eventually lost. He also mentioned a couple of shots that he missed, which could have potentially turned the match around. But at this level, even the smallest mistakes can make a huge difference. Trump also acknowledged that Wilson played well and deserved the win.
This was the fourth time Trump and Wilson have faced each other this season, and the latter now leads 3-1. Trump believes that Wilson is currently in a purple patch, benefiting from being the world champion and playing with a lot of confidence. He also acknowledged that he has not been able to perform at his best against Wilson in the past, but he is determined to change that in the future.
Despite the loss, Trump has had a great season so far, winning three major events. He has also learned to accept that not every week can be his week and that it's impossible to win every single event he competes in. He also believes that his mindset has improved, and he is now better at accepting a loss and moving on to the next event.
Trump also shared his thoughts on the Masters, stating that it continues to grow in popularity. He believes that the players love competing at the Alexandra Palace, and the atmosphere there is always electric. He also mentioned the increase in prize money and the improved fan experience, making the Masters one of the most prestigious events in the snooker calendar.
Judd Trump, one of the world's greatest snooker players, was unable to secure his third Masters title in a tightly contested match against Kyren Wilson. However, instead of dwelling on the loss, Judd was quick to brush it off as an off day and return to the table on Monday. The ongoing rivalry between these two top-ranked players continued at Alexandra Palace, with Wilson emerging victorious with a 6-3 win in the semi-finals.
Many were surprised by the upset, as Trump was the clear favorite going into the tournament and had put on a brilliant performance the day before against Ding Junhui. However, it was not entirely unexpected, as Wilson had already beaten Trump in two major finals this season. Despite the loss, Judd didn't let it get him down and was back in action on Monday, dominating the Championship League Group Five with four consecutive wins.
"I'd rather be out playing than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself," Judd told Metro in an interview about his decision to participate in the Leicester tournament this week. "I had some time off before the Masters, so it's nice to get back into the groove again." He admitted that he underperformed in the semi-final against Wilson, but instead of over-analyzing the match, he understands that it's not possible to always be at the top of his game and still had a chance to win.
"I just wasn't feeling my best," he shared. "The atmosphere was incredible when we walked in, and I was playing solid when I went up 3-2, but then I just felt a bit flat after that." Judd couldn't quite replicate the form he displayed in his previous wins against Barry Hawkins and Ding Junhui. "There were a couple of shots I attempted, like the cut-back black at 3-3, which, if it had gone in, I probably would've made the break and turned the match around. Usually, those shots go in, but this time it didn't, and after that, I didn't have much of a chance."
This was the fourth time Judd and Kyren faced each other this season, and Wilson now holds a 3-1 lead. Judd believes that his opponent is currently enjoying a purple patch in his career. "I feel like in some of my matches against Kyren, I haven't been able to perform at my best. When he misses, it doesn't seem to leave me with easy shots like it does against other players. When you're the world champion and brimming with confidence, you tend to get lucky breaks. I've experienced it myself in the past, where you seem to get away with more, and it's well-deserved. That's the only real difference between us right now."
Judd has had a fantastic season, winning three major events so far. However, he has also learned to accept that he can't win every tournament he enters. "It's incredibly difficult to win every single event I play in," he admitted. "Sometimes, people expect me to play at the same level I did in the first two games, but it's just not possible. Losing is never easy, but I've gotten better at accepting that I gave it my all and moving on to the next event."
When asked about his thoughts on the Masters tournament, Judd praised its continued growth and improvement. "The atmosphere is always electric, and the prize money keeps increasing, making it even more exciting for us players. The fan experience at Alexandra Palace keeps getting better, and it's just a fantastic tournament to be a part of." Despite his loss, Judd remains a huge fan of the Alexandra Palace atmosphere and is already looking forward to competing in the next Masters tournament.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
