Judd Trump starts Masters title bid in style

In January 2023, world number one Judd Trump showcased his snooker prowess at the Masters held at Alexandra Palace, London, with an impressive victory over fellow player Barry Hawkins. Trump established his dominance right from the start, winning the first five frames with breaks of 59, 60, and 56. Hawkins managed to take one frame, marking it with a break of 70, but Trump quickly responded with a strong finish, culminating in a break of 112. This victory not only brought Trump to the quarter-finals but also reinforced his status as a formidable contender in the tournament, especially following the withdrawal of Ronnie O'Sullivan due to medical issues. Trump’s performance in this match contrasted sharply with his previous encounter against Hawkins in the UK Championship final, which he had also won. The experience from that earlier victory seemed to boost Trump's confidence as he navigated through the game against Hawkins. Moreover, Trump acknowledged the significance of winning the first frame, stating, "The first frame kind of turned the whole game." He indicated that Hawkins's early luck in potting a red inadvertently transformed the match dynamics. As Trump's journey continued in the Masters, he expressed his desire for greater recognition and appreciation for his significant accomplishments in the sport. Despite being highly ranked and achieving notable victories, Trump felt underappreciated, stating, "For my age, I’ve won a lot of events and achieved a lot of things in snooker." His mindset heading into the tournament was clear – he aimed to focus solely on his performance without getting distracted by external expectations. Looking forward to the quarter-finals, Trump is poised to face Ding Junhui, a rival with his own history in the game, including his Masters title win in 2011. Trump considers this matchup to be an exciting challenge and is eager to maintain his form and momentum as the competition progresses.