Judd Trump insists he will ditch ‘naughty snooker’ and join snooker’s grinders if it means winning more major titles.
The Juddernaut claimed a second Masters crown and a fourth Triple Crown success with a gutsy 10-8 win over veteran Mark Williams at Alexandra Palace late on Sunday night.
Former world champion Trump, 33, built his reputation on a buccaneering style that brought fans to their feet and some swagger to the baize.
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That has made him the heir apparent to ‘People’s Champion’ Ronnie O’Sullivan - but it was battlers Mark Selby and Cliff Thorburn that Trump name-checked afterwards.
The world No4 reckoned being below par throughout made this win his greatest achievement.
And he tagged himself ‘The Cat’ having miraculously dodged defeat in earlier rounds against Ryan Day and Barry Hawkins, before again looking beaten against Williams at 8-7 behind.
Trump was also delighted to silence critics taunting him about a relative lack of success in the three majors compared to other big-name rivals.
He said: “I am proud, super-proud to have Selby-ed a few people this week. The way he sticks in there, I have a lot of admiration for Mark.
“He is the player over the last couple of years I have grown to really admire what he did winning all those major titles at his very best. And he could win a world title or a Masters not at his best too.
“To dig in, never fall more than a frame behind…I just put that down to trying to have the same mindset and mentality as someone like him.
“It was naughty snooker once, I’m not sure what this is…god…it’s grinding snooker, Cliff Thorburn snooker…put-you-to-sleep snooker.
“But if it means winning the Masters or other majors, I’ll always play like this.
@JuddTrump picks up his second @CazooUK Masters title in style 🏆
#CazooMasters
“It does get through to you, the noise about ‘He should be winning more majors’. It would be nice to put myself in a position where people can’t say that.
“Then they would have to find something else to say, and I’m sure they would do! So it is nice. When you win a major, for the next two years you are on a bit of a free roll, you want one every couple of years.
“If you go for a spell without winning one, the pressure builds and builds. It was great for me to win the worlds and the Masters following a lean spell after winning the UK.
“And it was nice to win this after another gap. I would love to keep ticking them off and be a multiple winner of all three.
“People are comparing me with the likes of Neil Robertson and Mark Selby on majors thinking we are the same age bracket. But they are actually seven years older.
“So they have had 21 extra chances in majors to get their total. I even get compared to Ronnie’s tally when I am 14 years younger. So I just remember that and go about it at my own pace.
“Looking at players my own age, I am way ahead of them. I just think there are way more top players than there was. Ten, rather than three or four that are really good.”
Trump also had words of admiration for beaten opponent Williams, who turns 48 in March – and the other two members of the Class of 1992 in O’Sullivan and John Higgins.
The Welshman would have become the oldest player ever to win a major if he had prevailed. And Trump added: “I played Mark Williams when I was maybe 18, trying to qualify for Bahrain and I honestly think it was an easier game back then.
“I felt I had a way better chance of winning then than now. In his head he thinks his best years are behind him. But I don’t see anything wrong with his long potting or anything else and if I’m honest I don’t know what will stop these guys – Mark, Ronnie and John.
“I can’t see them having serious problems for at least seven or even 10 years. I just don't’ see how their form can decline that much because of their talent and how they are playing.
“Especially Ronnie, I can see him playing until he is 60 if he wants to. There is no decline I can see, and for all three of them I admire their determination and sacrifice. Hopefully one day I can be looked at in the same regard.”
*18+ | BeGambleAware
