This year’s World Championship runner-up, Judd Trump left his mark as one of the standout performers as he made his way through several tough matches en route to the final. But it was his overall character and persona that left many smiling following his venture at the Worlds – something we’re not entirely used to seeing from him.
After Trump’s couple of campaigns of dominance where he was winning five or six ranking events a season, it only made sense that it would follow with a perceived drought. That level of consistent victories can only be sustained for so long. Which is why some seemed to think of Trump as ‘dropping off’ as he wasn’t able to maintain the quantity of titles that he had grown used to.
Although, this is a bit of a harsh observation given that Trump had secured two titles this season in the inaugural Turkish Masters and Champion of Champions prior to his voyage to the World Championship final. It’s probably fairer to say that Trump’s form hasn’t been quite at the level it previously was. His century tally this season has halved compared to the prior two years, but clearly his below-par game still has considerable stopping power as he progresses through tournaments.
However, I don’t think it will be too long before we see Trump on the rise once again. His mentality towards snooker looks to be significantly different to what it once was. During his formidable years, Trump would focus on the task at hand which was winning as many tournaments as possible. But now this attitude has shifted towards his level of enjoyment for the game and not clinging on to the results.
Trump mentioned in his post-match interview against Mark Williams that he’s been able to get a lot more enjoyment and positivity out of his performances/matches during this recent spell. While it may seem odd, Trump has lowered his own expectations and therefore pressure which has allowed him to be a bit more free flowing with his approach to snooker. This lets him have a lot more fun with the game and the fans, who I think appreciate having a prominent player who isn’t completely bogged down by the match.
During the WSC, Trump explained that he wanted to leave a legacy where fans would remember him as a player who always had a smile on his face and entertained the viewers. With this new mindset, he’s already made a number of highlights throughout the WSC with his theatrics and crowd involvement. However, I think he can kill two birds with one stone here.
Look at the case of Ronnie O’Sullivan. All season, he’s touted how playing snooker is fun for him again and winning anything is just a bonus. And when some thought his time was up after a period of unsuccessful ranking finals, he’s had one of the best seasons he’s had in years, finishing at the very top of the rankings.
Trump’s approach follows a similar parallel to O’Sullivan’s in that they both aim to get enjoyment out of the matches they play. By being able to relax more, Trump can rebuild his confidence back to the level it once was (just like he did throughout each match of the Worlds) and by not pressuring himself as much, may in fact convert his efforts into some silverware.
If Trump continues in this manner, there’s no doubt in my mind that he will be the face of snooker, regardless of if he wins fewer titles than any other player alongside him. Trump will establish a character that would hopefully attract more viewers to the game and I, for one, am all for it. I can’t wait to watch Trump’s career path going forward.
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