Trump wants to rule the world

Rising snooker star Judd Trump has declared his desire to be the best player in the world.

The player dubbed ‘the Ace’ became a professional in 2005 and despite a few patchy seasons, the 22-year-old has blasted up the rankings to fifth having bagged the China Open and UK Championship trophies in nine months. People looking at the snooker betting should remember this.

Having begun the current campaign as the ninth best player, the 2011 World Championship runner-up declared: “I’d love to become the world number one, it’s a big ambition of mine.

“If I want to be the number one in the world I’ll have to change my game, but that doesn’t scare me. I’m not scared of any player on the circuit.”
Having failed to live up to expectations over the last six years, Trump is finally showing maturity beyond his years and delivering consistently on the baize.

Many pundits have described Trump as the most naturally gifted snooker player since Jimmy White – another fearless left-hander who went on to become World runner-up on six occasions.

Bristol’s top cueman pushed John Higgins all the way in a pulsating World Championship final in April before losing out 18-15 but his performances provided the confidence and belief to continue his fine form for the current season. Anyone following the snooker betting should bear this in mind.

Trump’s previous best run in a ranking event was a semi-final spot at the 2008 Grand Prix.

As well as becoming UK champion earlier this month with a 10-8 win over Mark Allen, he secured the ninth Players Tour Championship (PTC) event in Belgium after a stunning seven-frame thriller against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan shines on Bulgarian baize

Snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan dazzled over 600 Bulgarian spectators who turned up to see the three-time world champion exhibit his skills in the capital Sofia on 13 December.

‘The Rocket’ fired in four centuries to recover from a 3-1 deficit against rising star Jack Lisowski to finally come through 4-3 much to the delight of his adoring fans.

“Bulgaria was the nuts,” O’Sullivan revealed on his Twitter account. “I love that place. Be going back very soon.”

The 36-year-old had suggested packing in the sport immediately after losing to eventual winner Judd Trump at the start of the month in the UK Championship. People placing snooker odds should remember this.

But he appeared in excellent form – on and off the baize – during the exhibition match in front of a capacity crowd at the Arena-West cinema complex which featured local talent as part of the Bulgarian-organized Black Ram Snooker Show.

The 20-year-old Lisowki, based at The Grove in Essex, admitted on his Twitter account he had “a great time”.

Lisowski looked on course to disappoint the legion of O’Sullivan fans when he raced into a 3-1 lead, but his more experienced opponent saved his best to last and rattled in breaks of 109, 103, 121 and 101 to seal a dramatic and memorable victory. Anyone looking at the Snooker Master betting odds need to remember this.

O’Sullivan added after the match that he was “enjoying the game”, that “everything was going well” and he would be “very happy to improve his form and win a big tournament in 2012”.

The Chigwell-based star has not won a major tournament since the Shanghai Masters in 2009 and is currently ranked 15 in the world.

Prem champ Ronnie nearly quit

Ronnie O’Sullivan has admitted he was close to quitting snooker last year but is now enjoying the game again and showed he was back to his brilliant best when winning yet another Premier League title on Sunday.

‘The Rocket’ lived up to his favourite tag and made light work of both of his opponents over the weekend, beating Mark Williams 5-2 in the last four before seeing off Ding Junhui 7-1 in a one-sided final in Hopton-On-Sea.

O’Sullivan has had his problems away from the game and a well-documented spell when he lost his enthusiasm for snooker but, when in this form, he is virtually unbeatable and Junhui simply could not cope with the 35-year-old as he claimed an incredible 10th Premier League title.

O’Sullivan quickly raced into a 4-0 lead in the final before Junhui finally got on the board in the fifth frame only for the Essex-based star to run away with the rest of the game to eventually take a 7-1 victory. Those looking for snooker betting tips will have been impressed.

Afterwards, O’Sullivan revealed he had thought about retiring from snooker last year as he was not enjoying playing once again but now he insists he is looking forward to winning more titles.

“Last year I wasn’t going to play anymore but got my head right and was able to play on,” he said.

“Now I want to play and I’m enjoying it and that’s the most positive I’ve felt.

“This is one that’s always nice to win. It’s a fantastic crowd, a great weekend of snooker and hopefully it will set me up to win a few more this season.”

On his performance in the final, ‘The Rocket’ admitted he had got a bit of luck along the way and felt Junhui had not reached the levels he can in the game.  Those looking to the Masters betting odds should remember this.

“That was brilliant. I played good and I know Ding didn’t play as good as he could,” he added.

“Ding did have a few chances and balls didn’t run for him but I had a bit of luck and made it count.”

O’Sullivan will now hope for more glory in the UK Championship, which gets underway in York on December 3.

Stephen Maguire eyes UK Championship

Stephen Maguire quietly gets on with business and despite a patchy run of form, he remains at number nine in the world rankings.

He will be regarded as one of the outsiders at this year’s tournament at the Barbican Centre in York when he goes up against fellow-Scot Stephen Hendry but should never be discounted. Anyone looking at the UK Snooker Championship betting should remember this.

It has been a testing time for the 30-year-old Glaswegian. Being beaten in last year’s Welsh Open final by John Higgins 9-6 after leading 5-2 may have been tough to deal with but worse was to follow with the ongoing investigations into suspicious betting patterns.

It all involved a match between Maguire and Jamie Burnett in a UK Championship match three years ago and it was only recently that the police dropped the case owing to lack of evidence.

Maguire will be hoping that this is the last he hears of this messy saga, enabling him to get back on track by concentrating on events on the baize, rather than off it. People following the snooker tips should bear this in mind.

Losing to Ken Doherty in the first round in this season’s Australian Goldfields Open and Anthony Hamilton at the same stage in the Shanghai Masters will do little to boost his confidence.

But he’ll need to focus on such achievements as his four ranking titles – his last was at the China Open in 2008. But the UK Championship may just help to reignite old flames with Maguire having secured his first major trophy in this event seven years ago.

Bingham fired up for UK encounter

Stuart Bingham will begin his UK Championship campaign next month in buoyant mood with a determination to get his hands on more silverware.

The 35-year-old from Essex was an automatic entrant for snooker’s second biggest major tournament after climbing into the top 16 of the world’s rankings. People looking at the Betfair snooker betting tips should remember this.

“I’ve been plugging away in the qualifiers for 16 years, so it’s great to be at the venue automatically now,” the world number 12 said.

“I’ve got a decent record in it and hopefully I can improve on that.

“I can’t wait to be in that situation of having the chance to win a tournament again, and I won’t be afraid of losing.”

A sensational victory at the Australian Goldfields Open earlier this season would have certainly helped Bingham acquire his new fearless approach during the latter stages of his career.

Bingham edged out two-time world champion Mark Williams 9-8 in a dramatic final near Melbourne to secure his first ranking title since turning professional in 1995. Anyone following the UK Snooker Championship Betting will be keeping an eye on him.

The confidence of the Basildon cueman will also have been boosted with the memories of a stunning first round 9-6 defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan at the UK Championships a year ago.

Bingham will face Hong Kong’s Marco Fu in his opening match at the Barbican in York with the prospect of playing world number one Mark Selby or Welshman Ryan Day.

The tournament runs from 3-11 December with the 32 players including reigning champion John Higgins, Judd Trump, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Mark Selby battling for a top prize of £100,000.

O’Sullivan survives a scare

Ronnie O’Sullivan survived a scare against Ali Carter to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Power Snooker Masters.

The defending champion made a careless error in the fourth rack of the match against Carter when he potted a red from the break and then sunk another red rather than going for a colour.

Carter was unable to take advantage though, and despite potting the Power Ball he ran out of position and did not clock up the sort of score he should have done. Those following the best snooker betting odds will have been shocked.

However, things were still tight going into the final frame and Carter had a chance to snatch it in the final rack but a poor break and a missed red put paid to his hopes and O’Sullivan then clocked up the points to run out a 335-245 winner.

Other matches on first round day were closer, with the tie between Stephen Lee and Mark Williams going down to the wire before Lee managed to clinch it 228-211.

In a day of shocks, only two of the world’s top eight players were able to make it through to the quarter finals with Mark Selby and Neil Robertson the men in question.

Power Snooker is a relatively new addition to the sport’s calendar and looks to popularise the game through a number rule changes.

These include a reduced number of red balls, the Power Ball which allows players to double the number of points they score after potting it and a 20-second limit on making a shot.

Steve Davis secures UK Championship place

Steve Davis has qualified for the UK Championships and will play Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round of the tournament.

The six-time world champion beat world number 18 Andrew Higginson 6-2 to claim his spot in the event which starts next month.

David, 54, will be joined by Stephen Hendry who beat Gerard Greene in order to clinch a spot in the televised stages of the UK Championships. Anyone tracking the snooker world championships odds won’t be expecting a major comeback though.

However, there was disappointment for Jimmy White who failed to see off Jamie Jones who clocked up a 6-5 victory.

White had been 3-1 up in the match but was unable to seal the win, losing four frames in a row.

The penultimate frame went to White, taking the match to the decider but Jones knocked in a break of 66 in order to secure a meeting with Ricky Walden. The winner of that game will go on to play Stephen Lee in the UK Championship.

This year’s event will be held in York for the first time in five years. The tournament had taken place in Telford in recent years, but will return to its home at the Barbican Centre when it starts on December 3rd.

John Higgins, the defending champion will be looking to make it back-to-back titles after seeing off Mark Williams in a tense final a year ago.

Lisowski looks to new season

It’s been a stunning first year as a professional snooker player for Jack Lisowski but the youngster has maintained his focus is purely on the start of the new season. The 19-year old picked up confidence boosting victories against established names Mark Selby and Martin Gould. As well as those wins, the youngster came close to claiming other big name scalps in the shape of Steve Davis and John Higgins, who between them could build a house out of their titles. Those who bet on snooker should keep an eye on this rising star.

This superb maiden season saw the Romford based player’s ranking rocket up to 52nd, culminating in him being awarded the World Snooker Rookie of the Year trophy last month at the sport’s end of season bash. Speaking after receiving his award Lisowski expressed his delight at winning the award after a tough but successful season just gone, as well as saying how much he is looking forward to the new campaign.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be given this award. It’s been a tough year and my game’s improving in all departments,” he said.

“Playing in front of the TV cameras was quite a challenge but something I hope to be repeating. I’ve got a great team behind me and can’t wait for next season to start.”

After pushing world champion Higgins all the way at the Welsh Open, the Scot claimed the teenager reminded him of a young Jimmy White. The battle will now be on for Lisowski to not rest on his laurels but continue his impressive form into next season.

Higgins tops off winning year

John Higgins capped off a sensational year by taking home the Player of the Year and Snooker Journalists Player of the Year awards at the Dorchester held ceremony last week. The ‘Wishaw Wizard’ has had a scintillating season, picking up titles at the UK Championships, Welsh Open and more recently the World Championship at the Crucible.

Higgins’ 18-15 victory in last month’s World Championships final against Judd Trump will probably go down as one of the most exciting finals in recent times. No matter what wonder-boy Trump pulled out, Higgins managed to produce better. It seemed written in the stars that the Scotsman would prevail and nobody could have argued against Higgins taking the title. Those who had placed snooker bets on him would have been delighted.

Higgins was delighted with his Player of the Year award, making it clear he would be looking to build on his successful season.

He said: “I’m honoured to have been named Player of the Year. It’s a fantastic way to round off what has been an incredible season. Winning a fourth world title was a new high in my career, and I hope there are many more titles to come.”

The victor on that occasion was charmingly modest about his own performance, instead pouring praise on his opponent, making it clear Trump would one day lift the trophy. That magnanimous demeanour seems to have been added to Higgins character since all the troubles from last year’s match fixing scandal, and has worked in deflecting any real attacks from the media and allowed him to focus on picking up titles.

Trump full of confidence

Judd Trump believes he has the form to win the World Championship at the Crucible after a convincing 13-6 victory over Martin Gould (Trump 8/1 to win the title with bet365).

The Bristolian came into the tournament on the back of victory in the China Open earlier this month, knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson in the first round and once again impressed against Gould.

The last month has seen Trump shoot to the top of the game and he readily admits its been a whirlwind.

“The last month has exceeded my wildest expectations,” he told reporters. “I have to bring myself back to reality sometimes.

“I’ve only won two games, so it’s nothing that special.”

Trump now goes on to face 2006 World Champion Graeme Dott ,who beat Ali Carter 13-11 in the second round.

After their match, Martin Gould was gracious in defeat and tipped the 21-year-old to be a star of the game.

“If he scores like he has been and keeps potting the long ones like he does, then who knows, his name could be on the title,” said the world number 22.

“We’ve all known Judd for many a year, and we all know what he can do.”