Judd Trump targets World Championship glory to ensure 'great season' is not forgotten, feels Shaun Murphy clash could be a final

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Judd Trump laid down a marker to the rest of the World Championship field with a 10-4 win over Zhou Yuelong. The world No. 1 rolled in five centuries as he set up a clash with Shaun Murphy. Trump says he is not getting carried away with his bid to make 100 tons in a season. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

'Could easily be a final' - Trump wary of Murphy threat in second round

Video credit: TNT Sports

Judd Trump does not want to be snooker’s forgotten man this season - but says that adds pressure in his bid for World Championship glory.

Trump has had a superb season, winning the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Shanghai Masters and his fifth Triple Crown event at the UK Championship.

He is the world No. 1 and bookmakers’ favourite for Crucible glory, and suggested anything but a win would diminish his season.

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"Because it is the last tournament of the season and anyone not involved with snooker is tuning into the World Championship, they only really remember this tournament and the rest kind of gets forgotten a little bit," Trump said after powering into round two with victory over Zhou Yuelong.

"I've had a great season, but you kind of get forgotten about if you don’t win this tournament, so it adds that pressure on.

"I have a good chance if I keep doing what I am doing."

Trump made five centuries in his opening win at the World Championship as he set up a meeting with Shaun Murphy.

The world No. 1 says the second-round match against Murphy "could easily be the final".

Murphy headed to Sheffield with a Triple Crown under his belt this season after winning The Masters, and Trump is aware of the challenge facing him.

"To play Shaun in the second round of the World Championship, it could easily be the final," Trump said on TNT Sports. "It shows the standard right now as Shaun is down the rankings a little bit.

"He could easily be top three or four in the world, so to win the World Championship nowadays you have to beat a lot of great players, and it does not get any tougher than Shaun in the second round."

Trump says he no longer occupies his mind with routes through tournaments, having fallen into that trap earlier in his career.

"I used to be looking at the draw, seeing who I can play and who gets through, but nowadays it is just the first game," Trump said. "I think before the tournament a lot was made of me and Shaun potentially meeting, so I knew I was going to have him.

"In the past I have been guilty of looking at the draw and then playing badly and having an easier opponent in the next round and I am already out, so it does not really matter."

'Snooker from the gods' - Trump makes it three centuries in a row against Zhou

Video credit: TNT Sports

Trump made five centuries in his win over Zhou to move to 98 for the season, and within two of picking up the £100,000 bonus for 100 tons in a season.

It is on his mind, and Trump said he may be tempted to take on a big shot to keep a break going if a century was in sight.

"I know that I am close," Trump said. "I would be lying if I said it was not on my mind.

"It would be nice to get it out of the way early. I don’t want to be losing and desperately trying to make centuries and everything is going wrong and everyone is laughing at me as I’m one short."

Trump faces Murphy over three sessions, beginning on Sunday morning, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Shanghai Masters