UK Snooker 2020 – ‘Like Messi’ – Judd Trump’s trick wows Ronnie O’Sullivan

Judd Trump may have claimed he was “still in neutral” earlier in the week, but judging by his display on Saturday, the world’s No. 1 is not far from the best.

Trump set up a showdown with Neil Robertson in the UK championship final after beating Lu Ning 6-2 in the last four.

The match will be best remembered for a daring attempt at 147 by the Bristolian in the fourth frame and, in particular, a red at 96-0.

Trump dug the red into his left center pocket and sent the white into the jaws, somehow finishing very well in the black. It seemed like an impossible shot. Surely he was aiming to release a red hidden in the cushion and had just misjudged it? We were wrong.

“I was trying to hit the knuckle,” Trump said in the Eurosport study.

“My friend Jack Lisowski is an expert at that shot. He seems to practice it all the time, so I thought I’d give him one of them.”

Eurosport host Colin Murray asked him again. Was he really serious? Trump nodded.

“Well, I just want to put down my microphone and leave you two to chat! It’s a pheromone shot!” Murray said.

Sadly, the max attempt ended with the next shot as Trump was unable to get enough power to shoot the 13th black home. But it was a 97 break that showed the recent Northern Ireland Open champion was in formidable form heading into Sunday’s final.

“He’s really taking the mick,” Ronnie O’Sullivan added on the take.

“It’s like Messi put him in the top corner. He’s a skill with the ball and this guy has a lot of skill with the ball.”