Judd Trump reveals he snubbed huge offer to join breakaway snooker league and says ‘I wouldn’t get out of bed for it’
JUDD TRUMP has revealed he has turned down an approach to join a breakaway snooker tour.
The 2019 world champion says an offer was put to his brother Jack “a few months ago” but it was quickly dismissed.
SunSport reported last week that top stars had been privately sounded out by rival backers, which has Chinese investment, about playing new events outside of the World Snooker Tour remit.
It is understood rebel cueists have been offered more than £300,000 to jump ship from the existing circuit.
A separate calendar has not been officially mapped out but according to Trump, 34, it will essentially be a series of glorified exhibitions.
The world No2 said: “I tried to keep myself away from that. I think a few people have tried to contact me and I just couldn’t be bothered.
“I’m very happy where I am, with the tournaments I play in.
“I need something with history, heritage and those kind of venues. I need something to play for.
“I don’t think I’d really get out of bed for an exhibition series.
“I want the biggest challenges and I look forward to hopefully playing in more different places.
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“Hopefully World Snooker can expand and take us to different territories. I’m just trying to win every single tournament and trying to get back to number one.
“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 on exhibition games.”
Trump, who is level with Steve Davis on 28 career ranking tournaments, is not ready to depart the WST, having banked more than £1million this season alone.
He continued: “For me it’s about the titles.
“At the end of the day everyone wants more money but this isn’t the right time for me.
“I’d be a lot happier winning my money rather than getting gifted it.
“With where I am in my career and how I’m playing and the success I’ve had over the last five or six years, I feel I can really earn that money and feel a sense of achievement.
“I think maybe my upbringing is a little bit different and my mum and dad would be more proud if I did it that way.
“I love playing in a tournament with something on the line. I don’t want to lose and feel nothing, I hate losing.
“I couldn’t imagine walking off and getting paid the same win or lose. It’s not the same for me.
“I’d love for World Snooker to big up the prize money and play for more in the future but I want to do it with something on the line.”
Asked if he was worried about a possible LIV-style situation on the baize, he replied: “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.
“A lot of the things said have come from the older players. They’ve seen it, done it, it’s hard for me to judge. I’m not in their position. I haven’t won what they’ve won.”
Trump knocked in century break 979 – a superb 107 – in frame 18 of his 13-7 second-round victory over Tom Ford.
All roads lead to the semi-finals where, if it goes with seedings, he is likely to take on Ronnie O’Sullivan.
At least Ford, 40, has had some consolation this weekend as he watched from a nearby casino, a bottle of beer in hand, with Trump’s dad as Leeds stuttered on Friday night.
This result allowed his beloved Leicester City to secure promotion to the Premier League.