Alan McManus says Judd Trump playing snooker 'as well as anyone can' and has 'no weaknesses' after reaching semis

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After dispatching Ding Junhui with ease to reach the semi-finals of the Masters, Alan McManus claimed 2019 world champion Judd Trump is playing snooker "as well as anyone can". Trump, who has now officially produced the most lucrative snooker season in history, is hunting for a Grand Slam sweep. In this kind of form, it will take something special to stop him.

Trump likened to Hendry and O’Sullivan by McManus – ‘Put a different stamp on the game’

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Judd Trump is currently playing snooker "as well as anyone can", according to Alan McManus.

The ‘Ace in the Pack’ ruthlessly claimed his place in the semi-finals of the Masters with a 6-3 victory over Ding Junhui.

After losing three of the first four frames, Trump responded brilliantly to claim the next five and set up a place in the last four with Kyren Wilson, live on Eurosport and discovery+.

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Reaching the next stage of the Masters means Trump has now produced the most lucrative snooker season in history.

The 2019 world champion is chasing his third Masters title at Alexandra Palace, and McManus knows he will be difficult to stop.

"No weaknesses, there's no doubt in his own mind of what he's doing out there," said McManus in the Eurosport studio.

"When you're that talented, it becomes like clockwork when he gets a chance. I can't remember him missing a shot this week. And when he's playing like that, his safety game is watertight.

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"When you see Ding in his chair with his arms folded, he knows what’s coming. He’s just playing as well as anyone can play this game."

"How many players have put a different stamp on the game itself? I'm thinking maybe [Steve] Davis going way back, then you're talking about [Stephen] Hendry and obviously Ronnie [O'Sullivan].

"In terms of a stamp, something different, I've not seen this type of thing before. This is really something completely different. The list is short."

Analysing his own performance, Trump admitted he was on top of his game against Ding.

"I felt in control. I didn't really feel like I was going to miss anything as soon as I got in amongst the balls," said the 35-year-old, who is aiming to secure a historic Grand Slam sweep.

"So it was just about controlling myself and just waiting for the opportunities really because I felt that my game was there to take them when they came. I think after the interval I didn't really do a lot wrong.

"It is a good feeling. You know every time you come to the table, barring something silly, you’re probably going to clear up every time.

"You’re relaxed because you know every ball is going in the middle of the pocket, and you just know there's not really a lot going wrong.

"Everyone who watches snooker knows I couldn't really play much better than that. I played brilliant after the interval."

Trump has already won the UK Championship, Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Shanghai Masters crowns this season, taking his total of ranking titles to 30.

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