Trump: ‘I’m happy where I am’ after approach snub
Judd Trump has revealed he has snubbed an approach from a rival tour.
The 2019 world champion, 34, immediately dismissed talks and says legacy from winning on the World Snooker Tour trumps the temptation of a LIV-style breakaway circuit.
A number of stars have been privately sounded out by investors to jump ship with six-figure offers on the table for potential rebels.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is committed to WST for the next three years after striking a multimillion-pound deal with oil-rich Saudi Arabia.
And dismissive world No. 2 Trump, who reached a 10th World Championship quarterfinal with a 13-7 victory over Tom Ford, said: “I tried to keep myself away from that.
“If anyone tries to contact me or my brother I just tell them to go away. I’m not interested one bit at this moment.
“I feel like now I’m in my prime I wouldn’t . . . if I was at the end of my career maybe it would be different, but I don’t want to be wasting my prime away on exhibition games.
“I’m very happy where I am. I need something with history, heritage and those kind of venues. I need something to play for.
“I don’t think I would really get out of bed for an exhibition series. I want the biggest challenges.
“For me it’s about the titles. I’d be a lot happier winning my money rather than getting gifted it and feel a real sense of achievement.
“I think that’s something my mum and dad would want as well.”
Trump has earned over £1million in prize money this season and is joint-fourth on rankings titles (28) alongside Steve Davis with only O’Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36) and John Higgins (31) winning more.
And he added: “I don’t think there’s any real worry, I don’t think there’s enough players or enough names that could do damage.
“I think Ronnie is the only one if he left, but to be honest I don’t think people are that bothered by anyone else.
“So I feel like what I’ve established in the game alongside Ronnie, if I’m staying here then the tour will be a strong place.”
Welsh qualifier Jak Jones, who plays Trump next, became the first player since compatriot Matthew Stevens to reach backto-back quarter-finals in his first two Crucible appearances after beating Si Jiahui 13-9.
Scottish great Higgins resumes locked at 4-4 with Northern Irish title contender Mark Allen this afternoon.
The four-time world champion, 48, was outscored by the world No. 3 but managed to get out of the session all square.
Allen opened the match with a fine 119 break and led 3-2 and 4-3 with further runs of 79 and 65.
But Higgins kept himself in touch with a top break of 73.
They contest another eight frames today before playing to a finish tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, pumped-up Scottish potter Stephen Maguire celebrated wildly after opening up a commanding 10-6 overnight cushion over “chalk-gate” rival Shaun Murphy in their Crucible grudge match.
The pair traded frames during an absorbing snooker slug-fest with multiple Murphy fist pumps after winning frames 10 and 12 on the black.
But it was Maguire who got the last laugh as he overturned a 63-point deficit in the final frame of the afternoon.
And emotion boiled over as the determined Scot wrapped the table with his knuckles four times after potting the decisive pink before punching the air in delight through gritted teeth.
They resume this morning with two-time semi-finalist Maguire needing three more frames to secure a tasty quarter-final tie with Dave Gilbert.