Judd Trump complained about the balls after losing the Players Championship final against Kyren Wilson. The Ace was beaten 10-9 in a thrilling final but says he had a “very, very strange” experience with the balls.
Wilson won a deciding frame to take home the £150,000 prize. He won his fourth ranking title of the year by becoming the Players champion. But Trump feels the match was ‘different’ compared to every other game in the tournament. He claims that he was unable to play his usual free-flowing game, with the balls not running how he wanted. Both players complained to the referee during the match.
Trump told ITV: “The balls were playing a bit tricky, it wasn’t like the rest of the tournament where I was able to play free-flowing. I don’t know what the difference was today. It was very, very strange and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before in a tournament. It was a good tournament and I’ll look forward to the next tournament.”
Pressed on the issue of the cue balls, Trump added: “It was tricky. It was tricky for both of us. The ball was very light and it was taking off like a ping-pong ball. It was a bit strange.
“It was difficult because coming into the game, I thought it was going to be a brilliant standard. Me and Kyren have played some great stuff in the tournament. But it bogged us both down a little bit. It was not disappointing but we weren’t able to play our best.
“There was some drama in the decider. I wasn’t able to play my best. I thought I was going to hit the pink when I was going there but the white stunned for some reason. Well done to Kyren and his family, I look forward to the next one. Thank you everyone for coming to support us.”
Reigning world champion Wilson has largely had the better of Trump this season, with a thrilling rivalry developing between the pair. But the 35-year-old still has opportunities to secure a big victory at the Tour Championship or at April’s World Championship.
“[A win] doesn’t have to be against him, it can be against anyone,” Trump continued. “If I get to another final then I’m doing something right. It’s great for snooker to have these tight games and I hope next time the conditions are perfect and we can put on some brilliant snooker.”
