Judd Trump agreement reached after leaving UK like Ronnie O’Sullivan | Other | Sport
Snooker’s top players are in complete disagreement – Judd Trump is the man to beat over the next five years. The Bristol potter may have just one world title to his name, in 2019, but he boasts an incredible collection of trophies and is the undisputed world No. 1.
Take a quick glance at the sport and you might be forgiven for not realising that snooker has changed in the last 20 years. Mark Williams and John Higgins are still winning titles, the Welshman reached the World Championship final this year at the age of 50, and Ronnie O’Sullivan is still the most recognisable figure at the baize.
And while some players think it is not inconceivable that the Class of 92 continue to be at the top of the game in five years’ time, one facet everyone could agree on is that Trump will be competing for the top honours.
Metro polled 15 professionals and asked for their predictions on what snooker may look like in 2030, with Mark Selby one of the few to tip the veteran stars to hold their ground.
He said: “Probably Williams! He probably will! I know we sit here laughing but he probably will.
“Listen, if Ronnie still wanted to play and he was choosing to play in a lot of tournaments, I’d say Ronnie would still definitely be in the top five but, he picks and chooses and he probably doesn’t play in enough tournaments.
“So, I would say top five in the world would be: Judd Trump, Kyren [Wilson], Neil [Robertson], Mark Allen and I’ll put [Mark] Williams in there at five.”
Higgins laughed at the question while naming himself, O’Sullivan, Robertson, Selby and Williams as his future top five.
The Scot and Stephen Maguire were the only two out of the 15 not to name Trump, with Maguire replying: “I couldn’t give a s**t. Five Saudi players we’ve never heard of. I don’t know. I don’t care. Not me.”
But for Trump, who has left the UK alongside O’Sullivan and the pair will ply their trade from home bases in the Middle East, he is the undisputed favourite to top snooker.
Last year’s champion Wilson said: “Five years time? I would probably say myself, Judd, Zhao Xintong.
“I’ve got to think of ages here… If Mark Williams carries on, yeah Mark Williams at the age of 55. And if Ronnie carries on and gets inspired by him, probably Ronnie at 55 as well. Let’s go with that.”
Shaun Murphy added: “On history, you’d have to say, in no particular order, O’Sullivan, Higgins, Williams. Throw Trump in there because he’s just so far ahead. I’ll have to throw myself in there because I’m still trying.”
While Elliott Slessor, Barry Hawkins, Jackson Page, Aaron Hill, Michael Holt, Chris Wakelin, Louis Heathcote, Jordan Brown, Joe Perry and Liam Pullen were all in agreement that Trump was on their top five lists for 2030.
