Judd Trump, 19, will become the 11th teenager to compete in the final stages of the Wembley Masters in the tournament’s 35-year history after beating Mark Joyce 6-1 in the qualifying final in Sheffield today.
Trump, an outstanding junior, turned professional in 2005 but has come of age this season, qualifying for the final stages of the first four ranking events and beating Ronnie O’Sullivan on the way to the semi-finals of the Grand Prix.
He used to be very shy but seems now to relish the limelight and there’s no doubt he possesses a fierce talent.
His match against Mark Allen or Mark King at Wembley Arena in January should be one to savour.
The other wildcard will be announced soon with Ricky Walden, the Shanghai Masters champion, the obvious candidate.
Trump's form is starting to look ominous, good to see him stringing together consistent results now and it's only a matter of time til he breaks into the top 16 it seems.
ReplyDeleteWalden stumble here and there. my
ReplyDeleteguess is Matthew Stevens as the wild card.
Good crowdpleaser and maybe the natural choice.
my choice for the wild would be:
ReplyDeletethe player who is the highest ranked player on the one year list who isnt already in the tournament
highest ranked player on the 1 year list not in the tournament:
ReplyDeleteWalden, the natural choice
(2nd in the list would be Dave Harold)
is Walden the highest ranked player in the 07/08 points list not already in it?
ReplyDeleteNah that would be Mark Williams who in 07/08 finished 11th on the one years.
ReplyDeletei thought that too Matt, hence i questioned it
ReplyDeletePleased for Judd - shared a few laughs with him up in Glasgow at the Grand Prix and he seems like a nice lad and very modest and unassuming...Good luck to him. As for the wildcard, I'm thinking Chow How Potalot or Wang One In may get a shot to keep the overseas and far east contingent happy......
ReplyDeleteMr D
Does Trump remind anybody else of a Young Hendry?
ReplyDeleteI know thats a big statement but the lad just seems to have everything.He's an astonishing talent.
Maybe more a Jimmy White type
ReplyDeletemore kirk stevens (playing)
ReplyDeletemore kirk stevens (playing)
ReplyDeleteI expect Judd to make it to the very top and stay there for some time
ReplyDeleteJohn H
Ricky Walden is the top ranked player not already in the draw based on the four ranking tournaments played so far this season. Dave Harold is next on that list.
ReplyDeleteMark Williams is top of those not already in the draw on the provisional ranking list taking in these four tournaments and all of last season
John H
It will be Walden forsure to receive the second wildcard.
ReplyDeleteWell according to this ... http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Rankings/2008-9-one-year-ranks.htm
ReplyDeleteit should be Dave Harold. :)
unlikely but why not?
Monique, Dave is higher than Ricky on that provisional list as they have credited him with more points for the remaining tournaments still to be played this season than Ricky. This is because he enters them a round later and has a higher minimum points allocation. Ricky is the higher on points actually earned in the four completed tournaments
ReplyDeleteJohn H
Point taken. But there was a bit of teasing in my post ... because I very much doubt Dave would get that wildcard even if it was the other way around. He's simply not "commercially attractive" enough.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is not a go at Dave Harold. He came across as a very nice person when I met him in Duffel and I personnaly don't mind his style of play. But I know what I have read on forums ...