Judd Trump opens up on pre-match approach labelled 'surprising' by Stephen Hendry after crushing win over Aaron Hill at British Open
By Alex Livie
Published 22/09/2025 at 23:56 GMT+1
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Judd Trump was somewhere near his imperious best as he crushed Aaron Hill 4-0 in the first round of the British Open at the Centaur in Cheltenham on Monday. Hill had chances in the first frame, but did not take them and from there it was one-way traffic as Trump raced to victory. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Xi’an Grand Prix, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Judd Trump has lifted the lid on a mental tactic he sometimes uses in preparation for matches.
Trump kicked off his British Open challenge with a dominant 4-0 win over Aaron Hill on Monday.
Prior to the match in Cheltenham, Trump was hugely complimentary about Hill and said he would need to be at his very best to secure the win.
Trump’s comments raised the eyebrows of seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who said: "I don't know whether it was double psychology, but you were giving him lots and lots and compliments. I felt like saying, you are the world No. 1. I found that quite surprising."
Speaking to ITV after the match, Trump - with a smile on his face - responded: "I would not read too much into that. I sometimes just try to be nice so they don’t want to beat me."
Hill had chances to take the opening frame but passed up a couple of bites at the cherry, and it proved extremely costly against the world No. 1.
After taking a scrappy opener, Trump raced through the second with a run of 103 and followed that up with 101 in the third.
A third ton looked on the cards when Trump crunched in a brilliant red to start the fourth frame, but he surprisingly broke down when on 60.
It proved to be only a minor bump in the road as Hill failed to mount a counter and Trump booked his place in the second round.
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Trump secured the victory over Hill in 53 minutes, and is brimming with confidence about his new cue.
He last changed his cue in 2018, which sparked a run of form that yielded 22 ranking titles, including a World Championship in 2019.
Trump said he began to lose confidence in his previous cue, and elected to make a change for the 2025/26 season.
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"I changed my cue and have played really well," Trump said. "[At the English Open] I ran up against Elliot Slessor, led 3-2, and he got in and made a couple of long pots and I did not get a look-in.
"The tournament before [Wuhan Open] against Gary Wilson I did not do a lot wrong.
"Apart from Saudi [Arabia Snooker Masters] I played poor, but apart from that I have played well and I am really happy with my game.
"I did not ever feel confident with my old cue. It feels a lot easier with the new cue to adjust to the tables.
"It’s a completely different cue; titanium ferrule. It could not be any more different, so I am happy with the cue.
"To change to a titanium from a brass [ferrule] is difficult. I feel when I strike the ball well this cue is a lot more consistent."
Trump built his game on brilliant long potting, and he is hopeful that side of his game is on the way back.
He said: "My long potting had maybe gone off the ball the last two or three seasons, but with this cue they go in the middle of the pockets and it feels good.
"I did not have the belief any more with my old cue. Before I was having to smack it, but now I can trust my cue action."
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Xi’an Grand Prix, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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