Following a hard-fought 10-6 victory over Ricky Walden, Leicester's Tom Ford is poised for a pivotal showdown in the second round of the 2024 World Snooker Championships against none other than Judd Trump. Ford's triumph marks his first-ever win at the Crucible, a milestone that injects newfound confidence into his campaign.

His next opponent, Trump, currently sits atop the one-year ranking list. The two previously crossed cues at Ford’s last Crucible appearance in 2020, where Trump emerged victorious with a narrow 10-8 win in the first round. Reflecting on his history at the iconic venue and his upcoming clash with the current top-seeded player, Ford shared his thoughts ahead of the pivotal showdown.

When asked if he feels more confident going into this match compared to their previous encounter at the Crucible, Ford expressed, "Yeah, because it’s round two this time. I feel stronger mentally, whereas I’ve always struggled when I come here [The Crucible] when I missed a few balls, I’d always beat myself up. I think it can be different this time," he told SportsBoom.com.

Tom Ford's journey to this moment has been marked by resilience and growth. Despite four previous attempts at the World Snooker Championships, he had failed to progress beyond the first round. However, with this breakthrough victory and his newfound mental fortitude, Ford is eager to rewrite his Crucible narrative.

Reflecting on his recent performances on the tour and the evolution of his game, Ford emphasised his ability to handle pressure and bounce back with confidence: "All you’ve got to do it look at the last couple of seasons I’ve had. I’ve just learned how to deal with the pressure and come back to the table with confidence after I’ve missed a few shots. It’s shown over the last two years for sure."

Despite his significant strides, Ford remains grounded, focusing solely on the task at hand – overcoming the formidable challenge posed by Judd Trump.

Image credit: WST

When asked if he could possibly repeat the magic created by Luca Brecel last year, by winning the world championship after never winning a match at the Crucible prior, Ford responded, "I've heard that a few times. I've only just won my first-ever game, so I'm not going to sit here and say I'm looking at the trophy because I'm not, the only thing I'm looking at is trying to get past Judd Trump in round two." This acknowledgment underscores Ford's pragmatic approach and his unwavering dedication to taking each match as it comes.