MINNOWS TO DRAW BLOOD SAYS JUDD

JUDD TRUMP insists the FA Cup-style draws at the British Open offer lesser lights the chance of a fairytale run to the final.

The Juddernaut (top) is looking to add to his haul of 23 ranking titles at the biggest tournament of the season to date this week in Milton Keynes.

Former world champion Trump opens his campaign today against 20-year-old Si Jiahui of China.

And the event marks the start of a serious return to action for the tour, with a run of major tournaments after a spell with plenty of holes in the calendar.

World No.2 Trump said: “The open draw in this tournament makes it more exciting for players and fans, and brings in that random element.

“And there is space for anything new or different in the snooker calendar. Every tournament needs its own identity – you can’t have every event the same.

“That could be the number of frames, or the type of draw. I don’t think any of the players really favour the shorter best-ofseven format in the early rounds here. But it has to be done to try to attract different people to the sport. It makes it exciting, you never know what will happen and you can’t be thinking too far ahead.

“This is a unique format because you can get two top players put together early on. And it is also a chance for lower-ranked players to avoid big names until the quarters or semis.

“It has to be ‘one game at a time’ because you don’t know who you might be playing next, even if you win. So you can’t be thinking about easy draws lying ahead or anything like that. All the focus is just on that next match.

“There are dangers in looking too far ahead and getting too excited if you think the draw is opening up for you.

“I know players who almost look eight rounds ahead with only seven in the tournament!

“Everyone goes about it their own way.”