Image Credit: EuroSport
By Lee Clow
16 February 2021 | Welsh Open
Judd Trump says he is ‘pleased’ to get through to the next round of the Welsh Open, despite the ‘tricky conditions’.
The world number one secured his place into the second round after beating Zhao Jianbo, 4-2, in the opening set of games.
“In the end it was a very tough game, so I am very pleased to go through to the next round” said Trump.
“It was a little bit tricky, the conditions weren’t amazing out there, so it made it tougher for both of us and that’s probably why there were quite a few mistakes.”
Trump came back to win from 1-2 down, but he was quick to criticise the conditions of the table after the game.
“It seemed to roll off a little bit, it is one of the first games in a new setup, so it’s always going to be difficult”
“It was just a little bit heavy, a little bit damp, and I think the door was open and it was very cold outside, and it just effects the table a little bit.”
“Every day is completely different in snooker and every game is different, so another day if I get off to a good start and make a century in the first frame, then I can say the table’s perfect.”
Speaking about his 17-year-old opponent, Trump added: “I think he will be a bit disappointed, because he missed quite an easy ball and he had a good chance to go through, but luckily I managed just to clear up”
“Every game is so different and that’s one of the challenges about snooker”
“I think the first couple of rounds, you just want to get through and it is not really until you get to the last 16 or last eight when you really feel like you’re a part of the tournament”
Trump’s next game is against Si Jiahui, who is currently ranked 93rd in the world. Despite looking certain to progress, Trump is adamant to ‘take one game at a time’.
“I just take one game at a time and think it’s important not to focus on who you could have if you win and not get too far ahead of yourself”
“I knew the first game was going to be tough and now I will go back and practise tomorrow and get ready for next game on Wednesday”
Despite his great accolades, Trump is still looking for his first Welsh Open title. The Bristol born superstar has had a fantastic season and he is hopeful he can finally claim the tournament that has defied him for so long.
“It is one that I haven’t won, I lost a close final a couple of years back, but my results haven’t really been that great before and after that, so maybe I just got a little bit too much expectation on myself playing here, but hopefully this year I can sort turn that around”
Having had such a great season, which has seen him pick up the English Open, the Northern Ireland Open, the German Masters and the World Grand Prix, Trump insists it is going to be ‘difficult’ to keep up his consistency in the tournament and in the upcoming World Championship.
“It’s going to be difficult because the consistency I’ve already showed, I probably can’t play any better than I have been playing recently for the past two and a half years”
“It’s just important for me to pace myself, I didn’t play in the Shootout and maybe if I have a couple deeper runs in these events and I’ll probably have to skip another event or two just to make sure that I am absolutely ready and prepared for the World Championship”
“Last season in 2019, Kyren (Wilson) played well against me, I wasn’t too disappointed, but obviously the World Championship is so important to everyone and is one that you want to win every season”
For the first time in five years, the Welsh Open has a new home with Celtic Manor, in Newport, acting as host.
Speaking on the venue, Trump said: “It’s obviously nice to play somewhere different”
“I think of all the players are very happy to see some new scenery and yeah it’s nice to get out and about and not be locked in Milton Keynes the whole time, so everyone is very happy about this”
“It’s always going to be difficult when you’ve got a new venue, it’s hard to get it perfect the first time round and get the conditions absolutely correct”
“As the tournament goes on, I’d imagine everyone will get more used to what’s going on and hopefully the standard can pick up”
Trump was also asked after the game about the recent news of Doug Mountjoy’s passing. Trump said: “He was just before my time, but I know that he was amazing to the game and its players liking him that sort of the inspire the next generation like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry”
“They get inspired by players like Doug and then I get inspired by them, so one thing leads to another and players like him obviously drives me and a lot of the younger players nowadays to play snooker”
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