Judd Trump is into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship and warns his rivals that he takes some stopping once he reaches that stage of a tournament.
It is not breaking news for the rest of the field in York, who have seen Trump win three ranking titles already this season and reach two other finals.
The Ace hammered Jamie Jones 6-0 in the second round on Wednesday without really needing to hit top gear as the Welshman struggled badly. The comfortable win set-up a cracking quarter-final against either Mark Selby or Barry Hawkins.
Trump has been to three UK Championship finals, lifting the trophy once, but otherwise has always lost in the last 16 or earlier. Now he has made it to the quarter-finals, he fancies his chances of reaching another showpiece.
When asked about his ‘all or nothing’ record at the UK, he told the BBC: ‘Means I’m gong to win it this week, so that’s good.
‘I do feel like I’m a player that doesn’t lose in quarter and semis that often. I wouldn’t say streaky because I’m very consistent, but I feel like if I can get through those first couple of rounds then I’m playing amazing and it takes something really special to beat me.
‘The first round is the most nerve-racking. Every tournament is different, surroundings, table conditions. With my cue action, a lot of other players perform the same in all conditions, but my cue acton, where I come across the ball and hit with a little bit of side at impact, I have to get used to how the table is playing with side a lot more than other players. The first game I’m really nervous, but when I know how I’m playing on the table it just becomes easy for me.
‘I’m full of confidence but also the opposition hasn’t stood up to me, which sometimes I don’t really like because you get through too easy and you’re not pushed.
‘I know in the next game whoever I play Mark Selby or Barry Hawkins, I saw Mark Selby’s first game he played absolutely incredible, so I know I’m going to have to up my standard.’
Trump’s stellar run of three ranking titles on the spin ended when he was beaten a the International Championship by Stephen Maguire, and he was then downed in the Champion of Champions final by Mark Allen.
It was a heavy defeat to the Pistol, losing 10-3, but the 34-year-old says one of his many talents is not letting a loss get him down.
‘I’m amazing at getting smashed like that or just losing and completely forgetting about it,’ he said. ‘It’s something I’ve learned over the years.
‘I’ve had such an amazing season and to dwell on a half bad day, I don’t care, when I’m reaching so many finals it’s so easy to get over that sort of thing.’
Hawkins and Selby meet on Wednesday evening with the winner taking on Trump in the quarter-finals on Friday.
On the other table on Wednesday afternoon Ding Junhui beat Tom Ford to make the quarters, where he will play either Mark Williams or Jamie Clarke.
The victory for Ding means he will likely make it into the Masters and Ford misses out after making it into the top 16 for the first time in his career earlier this month.
MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan says he has been ‘asked to consider his future’ by snooker bosses
MORE : Jamie Clarke has no problem facing Mark Williams at the UK Championship, except one
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