Stephen Hendry believes Judd Trump might be set for an additional profitable week after tipping the world primary to win the 2026 China Open.
The largest rating occasion of the brand new snooker season up to now will get underneath method on Saturday in Taiyuan, the place Trump will bid to construct on his current triumph on the Shanghai Masters.
The 36 year-old defeated Kyren Wilson 11-6 in final week’s invitational remaining to say the title for the second time, producing a formidable show all through the event.
Trump will now try to hold that momentum into the China Open, the place he begins his marketing campaign in opposition to Noppon Saengkham within the opening spherical.
Regardless of getting into the event on the again of what many would take into account a comparatively quiet marketing campaign by his personal lofty requirements, Trump stays one of many main contenders for the title.
The Englishman gained just one rating occasion final season on the German Masters however nonetheless reached a number of different finals, a return that may characterize a robust interval for many gamers on the circuit.
Bookmakers have put in Trump because the second favorite at round 4/1, with reigning world champion Zhao Xintong narrowly forward within the betting.
Seven-time world champion Hendry believes Trump’s prospects have been boosted considerably after lastly selecting a cue following months of experimentation.
Talking on the Snooker Membership podcast, the Scot stated: “He’s loads happier with the cue he’s utilizing. He stated he solely began utilizing it six days earlier than the World Championship.”
“However now he’s clearly had the entire low season, and he has actually labored laborious. He appeared snug enjoying all of the photographs. The lengthy recreation was there, and the scoring was there.
“He used 4 totally different cues final season, I believe. If he’s now bought a cue that he’s very pleased with, it might spell bother for the remainder.
“Half of our discussions about Judd final season had been to do with all of the messing round with cues.
“So if he’s discovered the reply to that, then that’s going to be ominous for the remainder of them.”
Trump’s efficiency in Shanghai actually prompt he’s enjoying with renewed confidence forward of an essential spell with the recent marketing campaign gaining momentum.
He compiled seven century breaks en path to the ultimate, the place a extra managed show helped him previous a well-known rival in Wilson.
The Bristol potter additionally faces a big battle to retain his place on the high of the world rankings over the approaching weeks.
Greater than £500,000 is because of come off his rolling two-year tally this month, with a big portion of these factors coming from the now-defunct Saudi Arabia Masters, which means they can’t be defended.
That leaves Trump underneath stress to proceed accumulating rating factors early within the season if he’s to take care of his grip on the world primary place he has held since August in 2024.
Zhao, Neil Robertson, and Wu Yize are among the many gamers who might pounce and usurp Trump into high spot within the coming weeks.
But Hendry isn’t satisfied that his stranglehold on the world no.1 place will finish simply but.
“I wouldn’t be stunned if he wins the China Open. He’s a profitable machine when he will get on that roll,” Hendry, the dominant world no.1 within the Nineties, stated.
“He simply loves profitable matches. I don’t suppose he intimidates gamers the identical method he used to by way of aggressive all-out assault.”
“However he positively intimidates gamers the way in which he can play any type of body now.
“He’s fairly snug enjoying scrappy frames, and I believe the intimidation now comes from the actual fact he’s world no.1. He performs like a world no.1.
“He performs only a few unsuitable photographs now. Arguably, he’s not as thrilling to look at.
“Okay, you’ve bought the aptitude photographs on the finish of the body when he’s gained it, however arguably he’s not [as exciting] by way of taking dangers and going for photographs that possibly he used to 10 years in the past.
“However he’s a much better all-round participant than he was once. There’s little doubt about it.
“You don’t win what he’s gained and get to world no.1 with out having all features of the sport.”
If Hendry’s prediction proves correct, Trump would safe the perfect begin to the brand new rating marketing campaign whereas strengthening his possibilities of extending his keep on the summit of the world rankings.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
