Judd Trump offers 'frustrating' possibility for why different players are winning tournaments this season after victory over Lei Peifan

World No.1 Judd Trump was left reeling by the size of the pockets, despite his 6-2 victory over Lei Peifan, which saw him reach the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions. Trump said the larger pockets were "frustrating" as he found them to be a leveller which handed lesser players the chance to win, while he was still struggling with his new cue, having changed it two months ago.

Judd Trump said pockets being too big was "frustrating", suggesting it was a possible reason why so many players have won tournaments so far this season.

The world No. 1 beat Lei Peifan 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions, but was not happy with his performance in Leicester on Monday.

He cut a disillusioned figure after the match, which saw him guarantee himself at least £30,000 in prize money as he reached the last four.

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Trump changed his cue two months ago and has continued to struggle with getting used to it, something that was again an issue against Lei.

As well as being frustrated by his cue, Trump was critical of the conditions at the Mattioli Arena - particularly the size of the pockets - and lamented his brother's visa issues which had impacted on his practice regime.

When asked why he was short of his best, Trump said on ITV: "My brother's not been able to come to Dubai because of visa problems for the last two months, so it is probably the least I've practiced in years.

"It's very hard to practice with the same intensity. And also I think the main thing is the pockets are so big at the moment that I find it hard that the better player doesn't always win on the big pockets."

There have been nine tournaments so far this season and nine different winners - Stephen Maguire (Championship League), Kyren Wilson (Shanghai Masters), Neil Robertson (Saudi Arabia Masters), Xiao Guodong (Wuhan Open), Mark Allen (English Open), Shaun Murphy (British Open), Mark Williams (Xi’an Grand Prix), Jack Lisowski (Northern Ireland Open) Wu Yize (International Championship).

Trump feels that is a possible indicator of the pockets not playing as tight as in recent years.

He continued: "A lot of people say that the standard is so good, it's all close, but when the pockets are tight, and I felt they were in Ireland, then I felt that people were missing.

Watch: Trump misses black off the spot to spark Wu's sensational comeback

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I was the one, apart from obviously the final I lost 9-8, but I was the one that was always finding the middle of the pocket and getting in, but now you're getting people that miss and it still goes in, so it's quite frustrating.

"I think that’s why you've seen so many different winners because if someone's playing half decent it's like nine ball [pool], you're not going to miss.

"Whoever gets in wins the frame and it's quite frustrating, I think, for some of the better players."

Cue still causing problems – Trump admits change may be nigh

Earlier in the season, Trump decided to change his cue despite a superb campaign a year ago.

In the following months he has not looked settled with it and it seems as though the change has not been the resounding success he thought it would be.

Against Lei on Monday, it was again a frustration for Trump and he has now admitted that if he does not win anything in the next fortnight, he will change his cue - which is a marked contrast from what he said in Belfast, when he told TNT Sports he had no intention of changing his equipment again unless forced to do so.

'Terrific' - Trump nails long black after fluking red to keep first-frame hopes alive

Video credit: TNT Sports

He said: "That was not good.

"I was struggling out there with my cue and my tip and the conditions weren’t great either – not a great combination.

"I’ve played a lot better and lost games in my career so guess you have to be grateful to still be in the tournament to have a chance.

"The cue is still new and two months old. If I don’t win this week or next then I’ll change."

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