Ronnie O’Sullivan says ‘I don’t find 147s difficult’ after Judd Trump handshake snub at Champion of Champions

ByNigel Chiu

Updated 13/11/2022 at 15:39 GMT

Ronnie O’Sullivan has opened up on why he didn’t shake Judd Trump’s hand in the Champion of Champions final when his opponent made a maximum. O’Sullivan says he was "in the zone" and “doesn’t find 147s difficult” which were factors in the perceived snub. He went on to win the match 10-6. Stream the 2022 UK Championship and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+.

Ronnie O’Sullivan says he “doesn’t find 147s difficult” which was one reason as to why he didn’t shake Judd Trump’s hand when the 2019 world champion made a maximum.

Trump made a 147 in the Champion of Champions final last Sunday, which was won by O’Sullivan 10-6, but there was nothing said or gestured between the players or the referee.

A handshake is normal in snooker after a player makes a maximum, but O’Sullivan remained in his chair whilst Trump was given a standing ovation by the crowd.

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“It was a strange one because for me, I get why people think it is an amazing thing to do, but for me I don’t find it a difficult thing to do so when I see somebody else do [it], I find it quite normal,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio at the UK Championship, which is live on Eurosport and discovery+.

“The most important thing was, I still had one more frame to play. It was 6-2 and I was thinking ‘I need to win this last frame’. I was probably in too much of a zone.

“I was so focused on trying to be present that I was just in my bubble."

'You have to have that intensity' - O'Sullivan on Trump success

Trump says he expected O’Sullivan to congratulate him, which Stephen Hendry and Mark Allen also agreed with.

Mark Williams defended The Rocket, and O’Sullivan revealed he wasn’t aware of the backlash he received from the snub.

“I was surprised Judd actually went for the 147 because there was no prize for it,” O'Sullivan added. “I’m all about risk and reward and there were a few risky shots he had to take on.

“I was shocked he went for it because you can miss by trying to get onto the black. So it wasn’t intentional or psychological games.

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“I just pot the balls, play good snooker and that’s the way it’s done.

“Plus, I’m not on social media so I didn’t get to hear much about it either. Criticism doesn’t do anything to me anymore.”

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Stream the 2022 UK Championship and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+.

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