Judd Trump will enter the fray on the 2025 Masters when he takes on Barry Hawkins within the first spherical on the Alexandra Palace in London.
It was the Hawk who Trump beat to raise the UK Championship trophy simply over a month in the past on the Barbican Centre in York.
That prestigious title added to his earlier success this season on the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which has been controversially mooted as the game’s fourth main.
Trump, due to this fact, is midway to a brand new Grand Slam in snooker with this week’s Masters and the upcoming World Championship in Sheffield on the agenda to subsequent conquer through the ongoing marketing campaign.
The latter two occasions along with the UK Championship have usually been perceived because the elite competitions to win in current a long time – generally known as the Triple Crown.
The trio of tournaments has garnered status via custom because the longest-running on the calendar and likewise via their affiliation with broadcaster the BBC.
Up till about 15 years in the past, nevertheless, the BBC aired one other essential occasion generally known as the Grand Prix (often known as the LG Cup).
And bridging two seasons throughout 2002 and 2003, Mark Williams really managed to win all 4 of these occasions to finish the then so-called ‘Grand Slam’ – a extensively lauded feat on the time.
It was Williams, in truth, who Trump narrowly edged to glory on the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Riyadh on the again finish of final summer season.
The Welshman had been inside a few pots of rising victoriously however missed a easy ball with the profitable line in sight, and Trump ultimately cleared to pocket the £500,000 prime prize.
That wealthy jackpot, plus the £250,000 that Trump took dwelling from the UK Championship, has helped the Englishman prolong his lead because the runaway world primary in snooker.
World champion Kyren Wilson has executed his greatest to maintain up, however any suggestion that Trump isn’t the most effective participant on the planet at current is nothing wanting ludicrous.
There aren’t any rating factors on provide on the Masters this week, however the 35 year-old may have one other likelihood to show his value on one in all snooker’s greatest levels.
There have been query marks over Trump’s potential to win the largest tournaments regularly.
However since 2019, Trump has gained 4 out of the 18 Triple Crown occasions on the calendar – a strike charge solely matched by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Whether or not followers really recognise the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters because the fourth main, in the meantime, is in fact up for debate.
However the truth stays that it has shortly change into one of many greatest tournaments to win on the calendar, such is the load its prize fund carries.
Trump has made a continuing behavior over the past variety of campaigns of touchdown notable titles carrying essentially the most profitable sums of cash – together with one other £210,000 on this time period’s Shanghai Masters invitational.
His win over Hawkins on the UK Championship took his profession tally of rating titles to 30, just one shy of all-time nice John Higgins.
The 2019 world champion is the pre-tournament betting favorite so as to add the 2025 Masters crown to his ever-growing assortment of silverware.
If he have been to emerge with the Paul Hunter Trophy for the third time on Sunday, speak would very a lot flip to the Crucible Theatre and an unlikely problem for the brand new Grand Slam on the first time of asking.
“If I used to be to succeed in the semis or the ultimate, I believe there could be one thing behind my thoughts,” Judd Trump stated earlier than the Masters.
“To win all 4 of these tournaments could be completely unbelievable. I hope then individuals would take me critical.”
Judd Trump performs Barry Hawkins within the first spherical of the 2025 Masters on Tuesday at 1pm UTC.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
