Friday 7 October 2011

Born for the big occasion

Judd Trump got his Premier League campaign off to a flyer in Weston-Super-Mare last night.

The world number eight, who won this year’s China Open to qualify, beat flying Welsh duo Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens en route to the maximum six points from his first of four events.

While the 22-year-old is still a relative novice making only his second appearance in the Premier League series, his early success here comes as no surprise.

After all, he has built a reputation for saving his best snooker for the biggest occasions. He’s a snookering showman who loves to play aggressive and attacking exhibition shots.

This year’s World Championship was a fine example.

Following his first major ranking title, he progressed all the way to the final, lighting up the Crucible along the way and going toe-to-toe with the eventual champion John Higgins.

The way he played fearless snooker in front of the biggest crowds made him an instant hit with the fans and means he’ll now always have the ability to pull big crowds.

This week spell where Trump won his maiden big title and finished as runner-up in the biggest, announced his arrival in to the big time.

From a young pretender, he had become the game’s newest superstar; a player  with the belif of competing for all the big titles.

Judd is a player who thrives in front of the crowds.

This makes him a prime candidate to challenge eight-time Premier League champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, in a format he’s largely made his own.

The shot-clock event could be a perfect setting for Trump to further propel his status.

Forced to play a quick and instinctive game, he could be difficult to live with.

Watch out Ronnie, Judd is coming.

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