Exclusive: Judd Trump Ready to Shine on Home Soil at World Grand Prix in Hong Kong

Snooker star Judd Trump hopes home comforts can inspire him to glory at this week’s World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. 

The event has received a significant boost in prize money this year with the overall prize pot going from £380,000 to £700,000 and the winner’s slice rising from £100,000 to £180,000. 

It is a move which highlights the global appeal of the sport and the riches on offer in the Far East and Saudi Arabia for the players.

Trump lost in last year’s final to arch-rival Ronnie O’Sullivan and will be bidding to go one better in front of his ‘home’ fans.

The runaway world No.1 moved to Hong Kong last year to be closer to partner Maisy Ma and became a resident there at the backend of 2024.

On the dynamic of basing himself in the region and travelling back to the UK for tournaments, Trump told SportsBoom.com: “I'm living there and just coming here for the events.”

“Since the Masters last year I've been in Hong Kong all the time. I came back before the worlds for two weeks and the day before the English Open earlier this season.” 

“I try to spend as little time as possible over here. I'll probably be in Dubai a bit more as well and I've managed to find somewhere to practice over there now.”

“The amount of tournaments that are overseas now, it's not as hard as when Marco Fu had to base his whole life over here for example.”

“I can get by now with the amount of tournaments in China and the addition on Saudi. Having that balance has really been beneficial to my performances.”

“I've been so successful in China and that comes down to just being used to the time zone. I'm just so well prepared when it comes to those China tournaments and they're some of the biggest events nowadays.”

TRUMP COULD MISS MORE UK EVENTS IN THE FUTURE

Trump has been more selective with his calendar this season, skipping the Scottish and Welsh Opens, as he tries to avoid burnout ahead of the World Championship and prioritising aspects of his private life.

The Ace in the Pack is one of the hardest workers on the tour, but has struck a balance of enjoying his downtime with regular holidays and has even got himself a practice hub in Dubai. 

It is a formula he will replicate going forward, especially now he is living in Hong Kong. 

“I do find it tougher now to come back to something like the English Open now. It’s a struggle to get up for events like that,” admitted Trump. 

“In the future, especially if they add a few more events which there are rumours about, there will become a time where I'll miss events where I don't think the venues are fit to be holding the major events nowadays.”

“Northern Ireland’s one where maybe I would miss it in terms of it’s an event on its own in the calendar and if it was say the English then I would skip it.”

“But I love Belfast. It’s one of the best venues that we play in. It’s also been an event I’ve had lots of success in as well.”

TRUMP CHASING FOURTH TITLE OF SEASON 

Trump kicks off his charge for a third World Grand Prix crown against Gary Wilson on Tuesday.

Winner in 2019 and 2020, Trump has lost in the last two finals and will be desperate to overturn the recent record books at the brand new Kai Tak Arena.

It is the first time a ranking tournament has been held in Hong Kong since 1989. The last invitational event that was staged there saw a record 9,000 fans at the Hong Kong Masters in 2022.

The new arena will hold 5,000 spectators, which by comparison is over five times the capacity at the Crucible for the World Championship.

And Trump added: “I really do enjoy every occasion I get to compete in Hong Kong. I love everything about Hong Kong and being able to play here for the first time as a Hong Kong resident is definitely a particularly meaningful event in my career.”