Judd Trump says main table demotion gave him ‘extra incentive’ to return to spotlight - ‘It inspired me’

Published 11/12/2023 at 22:40 GMT

After sweeping Sydney Wilson aside in his first-round Scottish Open tie on Monday, Judd Trump revealed what helped him to up his game during the 2023/24 season. Trump was demoted from the main table and forced to play on tables two and three, a decision he is now thankful for. “I think it did inspire me being put out there. It gave me that extra incentive to get back out there,” he told Eurosport.

Trump says table demotion 'inspired' him to improve - 'I wanted to be back in the mix'

Judd Trump has revealed his main table demotion earlier in the season gave him an “extra incentive” and “inspired” him to return to the top.

Following his blistering 4-0 win over Sydney Wilson on Monday to kick-start his Scottish Open campaign, Trump reflected on his demotion to tables two and three at times earlier in the season and explained how it helped him to progress.

"I wasn’t enjoying it but on the other hand, I think it inspired me,” Trump told Eurosport's Alan McManus.

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“Because a lot of times there were people above me in the rankings or who had won previous tournaments and I wanted to be back in the mix.

“I think it did inspire me being put out there and it gave me that extra incentive to get back out there and get on that main table.”

The world No. 2 went on to win three successive ranking events - the English Open, the Wuhan Open and the Northern Ireland Open - and seems like the man to beat in Edinburgh after a perfect start against Wilson.

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He breezed through the first round in 47 minutes without reply from the 33-year-old as he set up a second-round tie against 13th-ranked Zhang Anda.

“Pretty decent,” Trump replied when asked how he assessed his rapid victory. “I think it’s always important to get off to a quick start in that first round, it really settles you down.

“I don’t really feel I did a lot wrong, I created a good few chances.

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“Syd struggled a bit, he’s not used to playing on the main table and the conditions and everything like that, so it’s always going to be tricky for him, but I just did what I needed to do.”

After knocking in his 53rd ton of the season, Trump is currently 46 shy of 1000 career centuries.

“It's one where you’re just kind of waiting now,” he said of the impending milestone. “The centuries are ticking along, while you’re out there you’re not really thinking about it too much unless you get really close, within a couple.

“It will be a big feat to try and get there this season, hopefully, I can save it for somewhere special like the World Championship.”

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