Judd Trump’s weakness has been highlighted by Stephen Hendry (Image: Getty)
Stephen Hendry has pinpointed ‘s struggle in long frame matches as a potential stumbling block to his victory at the 2025 . Despite being ranked World No. 1 and having won at the Crucible in 2019, Trump is not guaranteed success, especially given his recent lacklustre performances on the grand stage.
Last year’s world title was claimed by Kyren Wilson instead. Speaking on his podcast, , seven-time world champion Hendry told fellow snooker legend Jimmy White that while Trump is his “favourite” for the world title in two months’ time, he noted the Bristolian’s frequent struggles at the Crucible.
Hendry began by saying: “You’ve got to make Judd your favourite but I don’t think he likes the long frame matches,” to which White responded: “Well he does in finals, doesn’t he?” Hendry continued: “I don’t know. Since he won it, I’ve not seen him play well at the Crucible. I don’t know for what reason. It’s hard to pick a favourite.”
The World Snooker Championship remains the ultimate test of skill and endurance with varying frame formats throughout the tournament. Since seizing the title in 2019, Trump has consistently shown formidable form, reaching the quarter-finals for two straight years in 2020 and 2021.
He went a step further to the final at the 2022 tournament but faced setbacks in 2023 and 2024, with early exits in the last 32 and quarter-finals respectively, reports . Trump’s most recent significant triumph was during the 2024 UK Championship in December when he narrowly defeated Barry Hawkins. In what was anticipated to be a 10-frame win, Trump emerged victorious in the best of 19 frames match-up.
Stephen Hendry questioned whether Judd Trump can win the World Snooker Championship (Image: Getty)
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Trump’s inaugural World Championship win came in Sheffield in 2019, decisively defeating John Higgins 18-9 and chalking up a record seven centuries in the final. Commenting on his resounding victory, snooker legend Steve Davis hailed it as “the controlled annihilation of a great player”, marking Trump’s completion of the Triple Crown, after previous victories at the UK Championship and the Masters.