Exclusive: Judd Trump wants rival Ronnie O’Sullivan to stick around for as long as possible.
Judd Trump hopes Ronnie O'Sullivan remains in snooker for as long as possible, believing their rivalry keeps the sport exciting. O'Sullivan, aiming for an eighth world title, hinted at retirement but still fuels his competitive fire
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The Rocket, 48, highlighted he still has the hunger to win snooker’s top prizes when he revealed he wanted a record eighth world title before he retired earlier this week.
O’Sullivan’s status as the sport’s GOAT is already secured having racked up the records during his 32-year reign at the summit of the sport.
His glittering CV boasts the most major Triple Crown wins (23), most ranking titles (41), most maximum 147 breaks (15) and he is the only player ever to have made 1,000 centuries.
The only scratch left to itch is to overtake Stephen Hendry’s haul of seven world titles, which he levelled two years ago with a famous 18-13 victory over Trump.
O'Sullivan hints at retirement
Earlier this week, he said: “If there was anything I’d love to do that would be to win another World Championship and that would be eight.
“I would then have every record there is in snooker to have.
“I’m equally joint with Stephen Hendry which is a great achievement, it would be nice to have them all.
“That would be a dream story for me to look back on my career and say ‘I’ve done okay’.
“But, I don’t have to win any tournaments anymore. I’ve had a great career.
I’ve had an amazing career.
Judd Trump
Heir Apparent to Ronnie
Trump has been the heir apparent to O’Sullivan’s throne since he turned professional in 2005.
The Ace in the Pack pocketed his one and only World Championship back in 2019.
But he has dominated in terms of ranking titles over the past six years.
Nobody has come close to the 20 ranking crowns Trump has won since the 2018 Northern Ireland Open.
And Trump believes the consistency he has shown in winning trophies has kept O’Sullivan going.
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Trump, who will return to world No.1 if he reaches the final at this week’s Xi’an Grand Prix, told SportsBoom.com: “I think it’s good for me that he’s still got that fight in him.
“I think he’s someone that does like to be the centre of attention.
“I think if I’m someone who’s winning these tournaments as well, he won’t want to step away and let me take all the limelight.
“If everyone else was nicking one or two tournaments a year he could settle.
“But no-one’s really making the headlines.”
Fighting for Snooker's Records
Many of O’Sullivan’s records will more than likely stand the test of time.
By comparison Trump has only won four of the sport’s majors, 19 shy of O’Sullivan’s hefty haul.
But there is every chance the Bristol-born left-hander, who turned 35 earlier this week, could end his illustrious career with more ranking crowns than the Rocket.
He is currently level with Steve Davis on 28 with only John Higgins (31), Stephen Hendry (36) and O’Sullivan (41) ahead of him.
“I think it’s always good to have something to aim for,” added Trump.
“But I feel if I did get there then people will say he wasn’t in as many tournaments as I was.
“I don’t know where you draw the line. For the last 16 or 17 years he’s played in pretty much the same amount of events as I have and he’s 15 years older.”
Shane is a respected journalist who has covered a range of sports for a number of years.