Judd Trump’s new life abroad and famous girlfriend as issue arises | Other | Sport

Judd Trump has long been known as a player willing to take risks – and in one of the most dramatic lifestyle changes of his career, the snooker great departed the UK to build a fresh life abroad. Now dividing his time between the luxury hotspot of Dubai and the energetic metropolis of Hong Kong, the former World Champion has swapped Bristol’s chilly climate for an “outdoorsy” environment and a more close-knit relationship with his figure skater girlfriend, Maisy Ma.

Trump, widely referred to as ‘The Ace in the Pack,’ officially moved out of the UK in early 2024, joining fellow icon Ronnie O’Sullivan in making the Middle East his new home base. Although Dubai serves as his main training location, he spends much of his downtime in Hong Kong, where Ma lives. The couple are committed to managing their long-distance relationship, even with nearly 4,000 miles separating their homes. Trump has praised her positive impact, pointing to her familiarity with public attention thanks to her achievements in skating and media.

He also attributes his renewed motivation to the fresh surroundings and warmer weather, which he says offer a more satisfying lifestyle compared with the restrictions of the traditional snooker season. Yet an old problem has reappeared, adding difficulty to his carefully structured training routine.

For a long time, Trump depended on a consistent practice partner, often his brother Jack Trump, to help maintain world-class standards. Before relocating, this arrangement was already challenging due to travel and scheduling issues.

Since settling in Dubai and Hong Kong, recreating that stable practice setup with his brother has become even harder, especially as Jack has struggled to obtain a visa for the UAE.

Although Trump has access to top-tier facilities in Dubai, sometimes practicing alongside O’Sullivan, the absence of a regular, trusted sparring partner to match his intense routine remains a major logistical hurdle.

“It’s been a tricky season for me,” Trump said. “Obviously with the cue and then not having my brother with me. You’re not able to practice anywhere near the same level of concentration when you’re on your own. It’s not quite the same. It’s been a couple of months now. We’re looking to sort it as soon as possible.”

Despite the obstacles of settling into a new lifestyle, Trump has strongly defended his choice to move, pointing to the major trophies he has collected since relocating, including the German Masters, UK Championship, and World Open.

He insists the transition has had “zero effect” on his performance, arguing that any dips in results come solely from the remarkably high standard of today’s competition.

“I’ve won a lot of big events since I’ve been out of the country,” he said. “I’m a lot happier now, from my time away from snooker. Get to be in the sun a little bit more. There’s definitely that factor of not being recognised.

“It came to the point in the UK or Bristol, wherever it is, you can’t kind of go about your daily life unnoticed. I notice, you go for breakfast, you go anywhere, there’s always going to be someone staring or someone shouting.

“It just gets a little bit uncomfortable. It’s nice to be in Dubai, to be able to walk down the street and not have that kind of thing. Just feel a little bit more relaxed.”