Judd Trump: ‘I’m Not Comparing Myself to Ronnie’ as He Eyes Triple Crown History

World number one Judd Trump showcased his brilliance once again by clinching the 2024 UK Championship title, defeating Barry Hawkins 10-8 in a gripping final. 

The victory marks Trump’s second UK Championship crown, his fifth Triple Crown title, and his 30th ranking title.

This latest milestone puts Trump among snooker’s elite, with only John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, and Ronnie O’Sullivan boasting more ranking titles than "The Ace in the Pack." 

Trump’s Triple Crown Tally

However, despite his consistent success, Trump has often faced criticism for falling short at snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown events, comprising the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship.

The comparisons to O’Sullivan, widely regarded as snooker’s greatest of all time, have only intensified over the years. O’Sullivan’s staggering record of 23 Triple Crown trophies remains the gold standard in the sport.

But Trump is keen to shift the narrative. Speaking after his UK Championship win in York, he reflected on his achievements and addressed the possibility of securing all three Triple Crown titles in a single season - a feat accomplished only by Hendry, Steve Davis, and Mark Williams.

"I’m not comparing myself to Ronnie"

Trump was quick to distance himself from comparisons to O’Sullivan, instead focusing on his own remarkable milestones.

“I’m not comparing myself to Ronnie,” Trump told SportsBoom.com.

“I already set the record winning six events in a season. That’s very special to me. I think the only thing bigger than that would be to win all three Triple Crowns in a season.”

The 34-year-old has already carved out a legacy by setting the record for the most ranking titles won in a single season, an achievement he believes deserves greater recognition.

“In terms of how hard it is to win six events, I’d put that up there with extremely difficult because no one else has done it,” he said.

A Historic Challenge

While the idea of winning all three Triple Crown events in one season isn’t his sole focus, Trump acknowledged the enormity of such a challenge.

“Three Triple Crowns [in the same season] would be the best achievement you can get, I think, in snooker,” Trump explained. 

“But to be the record holder after all these years, most titles [in a single year], is also special.”

The Hardest Era in Snooker

Trump also highlighted the unique challenges of competing in what he describes as snooker’s toughest era, offering this as context for why he doesn’t have the same number of Triple Crown titles as O’Sullivan.

“It’s different to me. I’m in the hardest era of all time by a mile,” he stated.

Though he dismissed comparisons with O’Sullivan, Trump couldn’t resist drawing a parallel to another snooker great, Mark Selby, to emphasise the competitiveness of the modern field.

“In terms of people struggling to win major events, I think if you look at the likes of Mark Selby over the last five years, six years, and how amazing of a player he is, even he’s been struggling to win the odd event here and there,” Trump remarked.

“I’ve been able to win 20, 25 events in that time. I’m always going to be compared to Ronnie and whoever, but I think the time’s changed. I think it’s even harder now to win Triple Crown.”

The Road Ahead

With the UK Championship in the bag, Trump now sets his sights on the remaining two Triple Crown events of the season, the Masters and the World Championship. 

Should he accomplish the rare sweep, he would join the exclusive club of players who have completed this monumental feat in a single season and, in doing so, etch his name even deeper into the annals of snooker history.