Judd Trump took aim at the out-of-touch “older” commentators after he booked his spot in the World Championship quarter-finals. Former winner Shaun Murphy, 43, feels the runaway world No.1 is the most underappreciated potter on the planet and said you could “hand him the trophy” after his 13-10 defeat yesterday.
The likes of seven-time champion Stephen Hendry and six-time winner Steve Davis, who both appear on the BBC, are among the pundits who have said Trump would be disappointed if he fails to finish his career as a multiple world champion.
Asked if a second world title would enhance his reputation, Ace in the Pack Trump, 35, replied: “Maybe, but I’m not that bothered, I can just put them on mute!
“Shaun, for example, will be out there playing against me and he’s commentating at the same time, so he can probably understand the level, I think maybe some of the other, older commentators can’t see that anymore.
“I think I’m appreciated among my peers. Some of the other people are maybe not quite as with the game as they used to be. It doesn’t make a difference to me. I think that anyone who knows anything about the game that’s currently playing can appreciate the level that I’m playing at.
“I’ve probably got 14-15 good chances left to win another one. It’s difficult because I’m always going to be judged now, whereas every other player is 49-50 years old. I do have 15 years to win it again.
“I’d be disappointed in myself if I never won it again, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
Spirited Murphy pegged Trump back from 12-6 to 12-10 with breaks of 112, 99, 88 and 72 before Trump stopped the resistance. And Murphy said: “In terms of snooker ability, Judd is probably the most underappreciated player in the world.
“If he plays like that then you may as well hand him the trophy now.”