Phil Haigh
Published November 28, 2025 7:00pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
Judd Trump begins his UK Championship defence on Saturday afternoon (Picture: Getty Images)
Judd Trump is coming up to a year without lifting a trophy, but dismisses that ‘pretty irrelevant’ fact as he bids to the UK Championship title.
His triumph in York a year ago was the last time he got his hands on silverware, something you would have got long odds on at the time after a brilliant start to the season.
It has not been a disastrous patch, with finals at the Champion of Champions, Northern Ireland Open and Players Championship, along with a World Championship semi-final, while Trump still holds onto the world number one spot.
Given that he has been knocking around the business end of big tournaments, Trump is not worried, despite nearing an unexpectedly barren year.
2025 is close to becoming his first trophyless year since 2013, but it is not concerning him.
‘It’s pretty irrelevant, to be honest. I didn’t even know that was a thing,’ he said.
‘It’s not something I concentrate on. To be honest, even though I’ve not won a tournament this year, it’s not been that bad. I’ve been to quite a few finals, major semi-finals. It’s not been that far off.’
Trump has reached two finals this season, without winning a title (Picture: Getty Images)
On his form on the eve of his UK Championship defence, which begins against Stephen Maguire on Saturday afternoon, he insists he feels similar to 12 months ago.
‘To be honest, it’s not that different,’ he said. ‘I think just maybe the crucial balls or the odd miss here and there or confidence. But if you’re getting to finals at this standard, you’re obviously playing decent snooker.
‘It’s not like I’m playing terribly. It’s just the level that’s expected nowadays hasn’t quite clicked in every single game I’ve played.’
Trump beat Barry Hawkins in last year’s UK Championship final (Picture: Getty Images)
The big issue for Trump, as he returns to the Barbican, is what weapon he’ll be wielding in the battles on the baize.
More Trending
-
UK Championship draw hands Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump tough ties
Channel: Snooker Snooker 20 hours ago By Phil Haigh - Kyren Wilson responds to Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry comments
- Ronnie O'Sullivan names his two favourite wins of epic snooker career
- Shock line-up at UK Championship Snooker Judgement Days after upsets
A change of cue this season has not worked out for Trump and after the Champion of Champions he admitted that it was not the one for him.
While he was trying to be coy on the matter at the recent Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, Trump had returned to his old cue and looked a bit better.
Speaking in Saudi Arabia, he said he was not sure what he was going to do for the UK Championship, but surely a brand new cue for a Triple Crown event would be a huge risk.
‘I’ve got a few people making me different cues,’ he said earlier this month. ‘It’s extremely difficult when there’s obviously big events. It’s going to be very difficult to get used to a new cue in time. To be honest, I’m still not sure myself what I’m going to do yet.’
UK Championship draw and schedule
Saturday November 29
1pm
Judd Trump vs Stephen Maguire
Si Jiahui vs Ryan Day
7pm
John Higgins vs Ben Woollaston
Shaun Murphy vs Lyu Haotian
Shaun Murphy has been in tremendous form this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Sunday November 30
1pm
Wu Yize vs Michael Holt
Neil Robertson vs Julien Leclercq
7pm
Mark Williams vs Dave Gilbert
Xiao Guodong vs Pang Junxu
Monday December 1
1pm
Ding Junhui vs Xu Si
Zhao Xintong vs Long Zehuang
7pm
Mark Allen vs Scott Donaldson
Gary Wilson vs Zhang Anda
Ronnie O’Sullivan is looking for a ninth UK Championship (Picture: Getty Images)
Tuesday December 2
1pm
Mark Selby vs Lei Peifan
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Zhou Yuelong
7pm
Kyren Wilson vs Elliot Slessor
Barry Hawkins vs David Lilley
Arrow MORE: Kyren Wilson responds to Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry comments
Arrow MORE: Shock line-up at UK Championship Snooker Judgement Days after upsets
Arrow MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan names his two favourite wins of epic snooker career
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Football Newsletter – In The MixerYour guide to the week in football. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk – sign up, it’s an open goal.
Team Expand Options ? Select All Select All Arsenal Arsenal Aston Villa Aston Villa Bournemouth Bournemouth Brighton Brighton Burnley Burnley Chelsea Chelsea Crystal Palace Crystal Palace Everton Everton Fulham Fulham Leeds United Leeds United Liverpool Liverpool Manchester City Manchester City Manchester United Manchester United Newcastle Newcastle Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Sunderland Sunderland Tottenham Tottenham West Ham West Ham Wolves Wolves Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
