Exclusive: Judd Trump Reveals Why He No Longer Spends Time in the UK

World number one Judd Trump has been in scintillating form this season, and his Players Championship campaign began in familiar fashion as he dispatched Chinese breakout star Lei Peifan 6-2 to book his place in the quarterfinals.

Trump’s relentless scoring continues, with two more century breaks in the match taking his season tally to 86, keeping him well on track for the milestone of 100 centuries—an achievement that would earn him an additional £100,000 bonus. 

With the Tour Championship in Manchester and the World Championship in Sheffield still to come, it seems only a matter of time before he reaches that landmark.

Speaking after his victory, Trump assessed his performance in what was his first professional meeting with the defending Scottish Open champion.

“It was a bit up and down. I started off really good but started to lose concentration in the fourth frame.”

“A bit of a shock miss from him [Lei Peifan] the last frame, which allowed me to get over the line, but I didn't feel too bad out there.”

“He was decent. The fact I got off to a really good start in the first few frames, I didn't really do anything wrong and put him under a lot of pressure.”

“It could have been a different game, if he got off to a quick start, but just, that's what you have to do against any of these top players. You have to get off to a quick start.”

Shaun Murphy Up Next

His next challenge is a quarterfinal showdown with reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy, a player Trump has beaten in their last six meetings. 

However, he acknowledged that Murphy has developed into an even tougher competitor since linking up with former world champion Peter Ebdon as his coach.

“No, it's always an enjoyable game against him [Shaun Murphy]. He's always very open, goes through shots. You have to score.”

“I think he's become a little bit more ruthless this season, I think after working with Peter [Ebdon]. He is a very tough player to play against, and you have to play well to beat him.”

A New Life Outside the UK

While Trump’s performances on the table remain as strong as ever, his life off it has undergone a major transformation. 

The 34-year-old recently announced that he now holds residency in both Hong Kong and Dubai, marking a significant shift away from the UK.

In fact, prior to the Players Championship, Trump had not set foot in the UK since February 5, when he played in the Championship League in Leicester. It is the longest period he has ever spent away from the country during a snooker season.

“I’ve not been here in the UK since just after I played in Germany. I came back to Leicester for the Championship League, so yeah, this is first time back in the UK since then.”

“There’s a lot of time for me split between Hong Kong and Dubai as I’ve got residency in both.”

Though he spends more time in Dubai, he regularly travels to Hong Kong to be with his girlfriend, two-time national champion skater Maisy Ma.

“Dubai is mainly where I live, but I have to see my girlfriend a lot in Hong Kong also, so yeah, pretty much zero time in the UK apart from at tournaments.”

Managing a Hectic Schedule

With the snooker season entering its final stretch, Trump faces a packed schedule, but his base outside of the UK won’t disrupt his plans. 

Even with just a week between the Players Championship and Tour Championship, and another short gap before the World Championship, he still intends to return to Dubai in between events.

“I’ll be straight back to Dubai after this, then come back after for the Tour Championship, then straight back to Dubai before the World Championship. As I say, no time in the UK anymore, full time in Hong Kong and Dubai.”

Despite all the travel, Trump insists that the constant air miles don’t faze him, as he has mastered the art of adapting to different time zones.

“I’ve been doing this travelling for almost over a year now, so it’s nothing new to me. When I’m in Hong Kong, I always try and stop in Dubai on the way back to break up the time zone difference and make it easier.”

“I flew back yesterday from Dubai, and I feel pretty good. No jet lag or anything like that. By the time I play my next game I’ll be perfect.”

Finding a Better Way to Practise

Trump’s decision to move abroad wasn’t just about the lifestyle or being closer to his partner. He believes the setup in Dubai has allowed him to sharpen his game even further.

“For me it was always about finding somewhere good to practise. And I’ve managed to do that there, I practise like normal every day. It’s just a better way of living out there.”

World Grand Prix in Hong Kong

His move also coincided with one of snooker’s biggest events relocating from Leicester to Hong Kong. 

At the World Grand Prix, he reached the semi-finals before losing to Stuart Bingham, and he was quick to praise the change of venue—while taking a subtle dig at some of the UK’s less glamorous snooker locations.

“I think everybody's very glad that that tournament got moved to Hong Kong. It's very nice to have these big tournaments in places that you maybe go on holiday, or you want to visit.”

“Some of the time you're kind of stuck in places you don't want to be to, to play in tournaments, but Hong Kong is definitely not one of them. I think everybody was very, very pleased to, to see that change on the calendar. It's great for snooker to play in places like that.”

As Trump continues to dominate the snooker world, his new life between Hong Kong and Dubai has clearly not hampered his performances. With major titles still up for grabs this season, he will be hoping that his new setup only strengthens his grip on the sport.