Exclusive: "People Will Appreciate My Dominance When I'm Gone," says Judd Trump

Judd Trump believes his dominance in the current era of snooker may not be appreciated until he stops playing.

The Ace in the Pack is currently the runaway world No.1 and pocketed five ranking titles last season.

Still only 35 Trump, who kicks off his bid for a second UK Championship in a tasty last-32 tie with Neil Robertson on Tuesday afternoon, has plenty of years left to rack up the titles in the sport.

If he sustains his current strike rate in ranking events, he has amassed a staggering 21 in the past six years to take his tally to 29, then he will undoubtedly overhaul rival Ronnie O’Sullivan’s current record of 41.

It is the type of dominance which has not been seen since Stephen Hendry’s heyday back in the 1990s.

Three-time UK champion John Higgins, who himself is in first round action in York on Tuesday, says the standard of the World Snooker Tour is better than ever.

Trump told SportsBoom.com: “You take it for granted a little bit. Maybe it won't be until it stops happening that people will realise just how dominant I was."

“I know I'm biased, but I do genuinely think I've had the toughest era of anyone."

“I had it very tough. John Higgins was in his absolute prime when I turned pro, I think Ronnie was a few years down the line and then he was in his prime. I've had Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen. I had everyone in their prime."

“When I turned pro, you'd have to say Ronnie at the age of 30 still hadn't grown up, he wasn't mature like he is now with his all-round game, he lost his head and stuff around that time.”

Numbers game for Trump

Trump’s consistency is hard to argue in recent years and he is deservedly at the rankings summit.

“I've seen it a couple of times when people put up stats in terms of titles and finals that I've had compared to everybody else and there's a big margin,” added Trump.

“It's something that maybe doesn't get talked about enough, the amount of finals I've been in in the last five years or so."

"For me, there's not much more that I can really do, I'm getting to five, six, seven finals a season."

“It's very hard to be any more dominant than I am being. People have said about peoples' prime and I feel like I'm only just reaching my prime now.”

Big Names Crash Out On Opening Weekend

The draw has already opened up by the time Trump even takes centre stage at the Barbican.

O’Sullivan, the record eight-time champion, saw his title defence dashed on the opening afternoon as Barry Hawkins beat him for the first time in eight years.

Hawkins was “proud” having “crumbled” against the Rocket on numerous occasions over the years after he produced a four-frame blitz reach the last 16.

Two-time winner Mark Selby was another big-name casual as he was stunned 6-4 by Jack Lisowski in the first round.

Selby looked in fine fettle as he made two classy centuries to lead 3-0, but Lisowski — still searching for a maiden ranking title — pulled off a fine comeback win.

Chinese seeds Xiao Guodong and Si Jiahui also crashed out at the first hurdle with 6-4 defeats to David Gilbert and Wu Yize respectively.

Seeds Overcome Banana Skins

It was far from plain sailing for a number of the top names as they scraped through the first hurdle.

World No.3 Mark Allen said the game was “depressing” him at the moment after he made a top break of 56 to beat talented Jackson Page 6-4.

Shaun Murphy needed a decider to see off amateur Zhao Xintong, playing his first major tournament since being banned for 20 months for betting offences, in a battle of former champions.

Triple UK champion Ding Junhui, finalist the past two seasons, fought back from 5-3 down to edge Robert Milkins 6-5.