Judd Trump going on holiday before 2023 World Snooker Championship a 'mistake', says Alan McManus

Updated 19/04/2023 at 20:31 GMT

Given his proven pedigree, Judd Trump's exit to Anthony McGill ranks as one of the shocks of the 2023 World Championship so far. Eurosport's Alan McManus and Jimmy White pored over the reasons for the Englishman's malaise, with the former pointing to a holiday before the tournament and a potential flaw in his cueing technique that "may be getting progressively worse".

'Average club players don't miss those shots' - White and McManus pore over Trump failings

Judd Trump going on holiday before the 2023 World Snooker Championship was a "mistake", says Alan McManus.

Trump departed the Crucible at the first-round stage following a 10-6 loss to the relatively unheralded Anthony McGill.

It's the latest defeat in a difficult period for the 33-year-old, who hasn't got past the last eight of any tournament since reaching the final of the World Grand Prix in January.

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Trump had felt "quietly confident" arriving in Sheffield, but his game betrayed him against McGill, missing "easy balls" that let the Scot run away with it.

Talking in the Eurosport studio, McManus and Jimmy White dissected Trump's display and his preparation.

"Should he be going on holiday 10 days before playing at the Crucible?" McManus said. "In my opinion, no. He's a grown man, he's a world champion, he's won everything there is to win.

"I thought that was a mistake quite frankly, I just don't think that's the way to go. He clearly does, that's fine.

"When he's sitting in his chair in between frames, he looks a bit lost out there at times."

McManus also gave his view that Trump has an issue with his cueing that needs to be rectified, after saying Trump is "not the same player" he was when he won the World Championship 2019.

"It pains me to say it, but Trump, in the last two-and-a-half years, has won one ranking event. That's a fact. In the previous two years or so, he won umpteen ranking events.

"I hate to say it, but there is a flaw in his technique, I don't know how much he's taken that on board.

Judd Trump of England looks dejected during their round one match against Anthony McGill of Scotland on Day Five of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 19, 2023 in Sheffield, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

"It might be the case that it's getting progressively worse. I hope it's not the case, but he's not the wrecking ball he was four years ago when he played the match of history in dismantling John Higgins in the final here."

Looking back over some of Trump's errors in his match with McGill, White added: "Average club players don't miss those shots. So he is struggling with his confidence and his technique.

"When Trump is firing on all cylinders, he pots the most amazing balls.

"There are too many mistakes that have crept into his game."

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