Judd Trump has withdrawn from this month’s Scottish Open in Edinburgh, just days after clinching a dramatic 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins in the UK Championship final.
The world number one secured his second UK Championship title at York’s Barbican on Sunday, taking home the £250,000 top prize and marking his fifth Triple Crown success.
The triumph, which pushed his career earnings well beyond the £1million mark this season, came after a tense battle that saw Hawkins mount a spirited comeback from 5-2 down.
According to the World Snooker Tour, Trump was scheduled to face Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the last 64 on Monday, December 9.
Judd Trump has pulled out of the Scottish Open
PA
Following Trump’s withdrawal, Singh Chadha will now receive a bye to the last 32 of the tournament.
The Scottish Open is set to run from December 9-15 at the Edinburgh venue, with the majority of snooker’s top players expected to participate.
No official reason has been provided for Trump’s withdrawal from the competition.
Speaking after his UK Championship victory, Trump expressed his relief at securing the win.”
It was just relief at the end,” he said. “After it got to 9-6, I was thinking that I was going to get some good chances to get over the line.”
The champion admitted to feeling the pressure as Hawkins gained momentum with strong crowd support.
“I was dreading going 9-9, just because of the momentum that he had. He had a lot of support out there, he is such a nice guy. I think everyone wanted him to win apart from my family.”
Following his victory, Trump revealed plans for a celebratory break before the Masters begins on January 12.
Judd Trump fought off a valiant Barry Hawkins in a pulsating UK Championship final
PA
“There’ll be a celebration somewhere, whether it is Dubai with my brother, Hong Kong with my girlfriend,” Trump said.
His girlfriend, 25-year-old Maisy Ma, is a Hong Kong-based TV presenter and accomplished figure skater with nearly 180,000 social media followers.
The couple maintain a private relationship, choosing not to post pictures of each other despite their significant social media presence.
Trump noted he needs to “figure out whether I go to Dubai or Hong Kong for a few days” before planning his schedule leading up to the Masters.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Judd Trump ended his UK Championship hoodoo on Sunday
PA
Trump’s lifestyle has shifted significantly from his UK roots, as he now divides his time between Dubai and Hong Kong.
“I’m happy travelling around, spending as little time in the UK as possible at the moment, because I don’t really enjoy it as much there anymore,” Trump explained.
The 35-year-old maintains that playing full-time in the UK is no longer necessary for professional success.
Despite his reduced presence in Britain, Trump continues to return for major tournaments, with his family watching his UK appearances primarily on television.