Judd Trump hits back at Stephen Hendry claim with firm response - 'I'm very happy'
Judd Trump is currently playing to win his second World Championship and triumphing at the Crucible would, according to Stephen Henry, see him remembered as a 'great'
Judd Trump has hit back after snooker legend Stephen Hendry claimed that he needed to win at least one more World Championship to cement his legacy. Trump, 35, beat John Higgins in 2019 to earn his first Crucible crown but hasn't got his hands on the trophy since.
The current world No.1 has made an impressive start to this year's World Championship at the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Trump powered into the second round with a convincing 10-4 victory over Zhou Yuelong on Wednesday to continue his excellent form this season.
Having already won the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Shanghai Masters and his fifth Triple Crown event at the UK Championship, Trump is the bookmakers' favourite to go all the way. Ahead of his first-round match, BBC pundits Hendry and Mark Allen agreed that Trump needs to win the World Championship to be remembered as a 'great'.
"In my opinion, he does [need to win another world title]," seven-time world champion Hendry said. "I don't think that's maybe Judd's opinion. Whether he's trying to deflect the pressure or not, he says he wants to win as many titles as possible.
"It doesn't have to be the world; it could be any title. He could win 100 titles and only win one world championship; he's got to be considered a great. But in my opinion, you've got to win here more than once."
Allen agreed by saying: "He's won so much in recent years, he'll be disappointed looking back on his career if he's only won one world title, given how many other tournaments he's won. He's got the ability to win four or five of these, easy, and I think if he doesn't, he'll be disappointed."
Trump isn't having it, though, insisting that winning twice at the Crucible won't change how he feels about his career. "No, I'd be happy with the money and stuff I've earned already. I'd hopefully be playing golf every day and living in Dubai in a massive mansion. I'm not gonna be disappointed," the 35-year-old told SportsBoom.
"But no, I don't put any pressure on myself. I'm very happy with my career record in Triple Crowns. I know how difficult they can be and on a couple occasions in the UK and the Worlds I could have been say here on three or more. There's only fine margins I've lost, and to a lot of the greatest players of all time in those finals."
Up next for Trump, who now lives in Dubai, is a clash with Shaun Murphy, the reigning Masters champion. Not only is a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs for Trump but also £100,00.
The six-figure sum will go to the first player who makes 100 century breaks during the 2024-25 season and after Trump made five against Yuelong, he's within two of the prize. "I know that I am close," he smilingly admitted to TNT Sports.
"I would be lying if I said it was not on my mind. It would be nice to get it out of the way early. I don't want to be losing and desperately trying to make centuries and everything is going wrong and everyone is laughing at me as I'm one short."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Hull KR Challenge Cup winners parade
Update: Date: 16:00 BST Title: Where can you see the parade? Content: The excitement is building ahead of the parade to celebrate Hull Kingston Rovers' Challenge Cup win. The bus carrying the players, staff and the all-important trophy will be leaving Craven Park at 17:00 BST. You can see all the details of where it is going by clicking here or by watching this handy video. This video can not be played The route of Hull KR's bus route through east Hull to Queen Victoria Square. If you can't get to the parade (or want to avoid the weather) BBC Radio Humberside will be live on the bus itself, on the Hull City Hall balcony and in Queen Victoria Square. You can hear the coverage on 95.9FM, DAB or on BBC Sounds. Update: Date: 15:56 BST Title: Welcome to our live coverage of Hull KR's victory parade Content: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the big Hull Kingston Rovers celebrations after they clinched the Challenge Cup at Wembley on Saturday. The 8-6 win over the Warrington Wolves was the first time the Robins have won a major trophy since 1980 and, to mark the occasion, we'll bring you all the action as an open top bus makes its way around the city. There's live coverage on BBC Radio Humberside too which you can listen to on 95.9FM, DAB and BBC Sounds. How are you spending your afternoon? Let us know - you can email us here.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Sovereignty makes it a Classic double in Belmont Stakes
The Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty provided the Godolphin operation with a first taste of Kentucky Derby glory at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, beating Michael McCarthy's hot favourite Journalism into second place. With connections of Sovereignty resisting the temptation to shoot for Triple Crown immortality and running in Preakness Stakes a fortnight later, Journalism took full advantage with a narrow success at Pimlico, setting up a tantalising rematch at Saratoga. Journalism was the first of the big two to commit for home, quickening to the lead off the final bend under Umberto Rispoli, but Sovereignty and Junior Alvarado joined him entering the final furlong before pulling three lengths clear to confirm his status as America's star three-year-old colt. Speaking on the Godolphin website, Mott said: 'We had a repeat of the Derby – the first three finishers in the Derby finished one-two-three here – and the form is holding up. They are three really good horses and I'm glad that Sovereignty was able to come back and put in a race like he did in the Derby. 'If we hadn't won today, we would have taken a lot of criticism for missing the Preakness, but it turned out good. Sometimes, you make the right decision and a lot of times you make the wrong ones. Today, it really worked out well.' Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin USA, said: 'It's the most fantastic feeling in the world. Sovereignty was trained to the minute by Bill and his team to come here off a five-week rest. 'We knew that he was a good horse going into the Kentucky Derby and he showed it that day. To come back here and show it again, and beat a really, really good horse in Journalism, it was a fantastic result for us. 'It's fantastic to win two legs of the Triple Crown. We are very, very happy with doing it – coming here after the Derby was the plan and it teed up a really good race, with the Derby winner and the Preakness winner having a showdown in the Belmont.' Considering plans for the rest of the year, Banahan added: 'There are races down the road that we would really like to win – the Travers is very special. We've won it before, but I don't think Bill has, so it would be great for him to do that. 'It would be great, if the horse is healthy and well, to try to get to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup Classic. It's a race that we have run in several times without having the opportunity to win yet.' The Jamie Osborne-trained Heart Of Honor represented British hopes but he could finish only sixth under Saffie Osborne.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Not good enough' – Darts star Gerwyn Price announces plan for retirement as he faces ‘more and more' demands on tour
GERWYN PRICE claims he has plenty left in the tank - but won't be content until he's world champion again. The 40-year-old won the PDC's biggest prize back in 2021. 2 2 Price proved himself king of the oche as he downed rival Gary Anderson 7-3 four years ago. But he hasn't made it past the quarter-finals at Ally Pally since. Gezzy was KO'd in the final four of the Nordic Darts Masters by Rob Cross on Saturday. It followed a successful Premier League campaign for the Welshman, reaching the finals at London's O2. Price claims he is more than happy to keep competing for the next decade at least. And he's made sure to put to bed any lingering questions of retirement. Price told talkSPORT: "I'm sticking around for the next 10 years. "I mean, one World Championship, it's not good enough." Price turned pro in 2012 after picking darts over rugby. He's been the winner of seven major PDC titles - but admits as time goes on, he may be forced to pick and choose events. Gerwyn Price reveals darts rival who rattled him most and it led to awkward moment on stage The Iceman continued: "I would never give up totally. "But the Pro Tours and Europeans, depending on how many it's going to be at that time, because it's getting more and more every year, but I'll stop doing those. "I would never give my Tour Card up. I'd still do events and if they invite me to the Premier League and World Series, I'll still do them. "But none of the lower events and just stop the travelling." Darts' hectic pro schedule has become a major talking point among the sport's elite. Nathan Aspinall recently branded the calendar "absolutely obscene". The Asp fumed: "For us to take a weekend off, I have to pull out events. "So I'm losing ranking money because I just need a few days off. "And I've done that over the last couple of weeks because I was in a tight position in the Premier League, I really wanted to make the playoffs."
