World Snooker Championship 2025: Judd Trump Fires Back at Hendry and Allen’s World Title Critique

World number one Judd Trump laid down a dominant marker at the 2025 World Snooker Championship with a ruthless 10-3 victory over Zhou Yuelong in the opening round.

Despite being sidelined from the pre-tournament media day and Kyren Wilson’s World Champions Night due to tonsillitis and a neck injury, Trump showed no signs of rust as he dismantled his Chinese opponent in style at the Crucible.

He led 6-3 after the opening session, capped by his first century of the tournament – a fluent 117. And he turned up the heat in Wednesday night’s second session, reeling off four more centuries – 100, 113, and two 114s – to cruise into round two.

Neck strain no match for top form

Speaking after the win, Trump revealed his neck injury – caused by over-practising – had been the more serious concern of the two physical setbacks.

“Yeah, I've had two injuries, luckily, they, they're both kind of gone. The neck injury was probably the worst really.”

“I think a few players have had that kind of problem recently. It's very, very hard to play being a snooker player. But I managed to get treatment just in time luckily.”

“I’ve been practising every day, it was just a snooker player injury. I woke up one day and couldn’t look to one side. I’ve had it a couple times now. I think the awkward positions we get into, I think as you get older a lot of people struggle with it.”

“I hopefully should be all good now and just concentrate on the snooker.”

Centurion chase and WST cash incentive

Trump’s barrage of centuries took his season tally to 98 – just two short of a historic milestone. The first player to hit 100 centuries on the 2024/25 World Snooker Tour will bank a £100,000 bonus, courtesy of a new WST initiative.

Only Neil Robertson (103 in 2013/14) and Trump himself (102 in 2019/20) have achieved the feat before – but the 34-year-old insists the cash prize isn’t a motivating factor.

“To be honest the money doesn't really come into it.”

“You have seen me, and Neil [Robertson] have both done it. I just have that competitive animal, you just wanna make century after century really. And, and even if there's no prize, you're still going be going for the centuries because I think you see everyone nowadays, the amount of centuries that are made.”

“The standard seems to be going up. I think that the pockets aren't playing big either. I think the pockets are playing a good size this week, which is good for the tournament and just shows the kind of the skill level the players are playing.”

Hendry and Allen call for more Crucible crowns

BBC pundits Stephen Hendry and Mark Allen weighed in on Trump’s career legacy ahead of his match, arguing that he needs more World Championship titles to cement his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

"In my opinion, he does [need to win another world title],” said Hendry. “I don't think that's maybe Judd's opinion. Whether he's trying to deflect the pressure or not, he says he wants to win as many titles as possible.

"It doesn't have to be the world; it could be any title. He could win 100 titles and only win one world championship; he's got to be considered a great. But in my opinion, you've got to win here more than once."

Allen echoed Hendry’s view: "He's won so much in recent years, he'll be disappointed looking back on his career if he's only won one world title, given how many other tournaments he's won. He's got the ability to win four or five of these, easy, and I think if he doesn't, he'll be disappointed.”

Trump claps back at criticism

Trump, however, was unfazed by the outside noise – dismissing the idea that more Crucible titles were essential to his legacy.

“No, I’d be happy with the money and stuff I’ve earned already. I’d hopefully be playing golf every day and living in Dubai in a massive mansion. I’m not gonna be disappointed.”

He also defended his Triple Crown record and blamed narrow defeats against top-tier opponents for limiting his haul.

“But no, I don't put any pressure on myself. I'm very happy with my career record in Triple Crowns.”

“I know how difficult they can be and on a couple occasions in the UK and the Worlds I could have been say here on three or more. There’s only fine margins I’ve lost, and to a lot of the greatest players of all time in those finals.”

Trump’s next opponent is reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy, who booked his place in the last 16 with a clinical 10-4 win over debutant Daniel Wells.

With both men in heavy scoring form, a blockbuster second-round clash awaits – and Trump will be eyeing not just a place in the quarterfinals, but that elusive 100th century too.