Ronnie O’Sullivan continues to be moved by the impact he has had on Judd Trump’s career, hailing the 34-year-old as ‘an all-time great’ of snooker already.
O’Sullivan’s new documentary ‘The Edge of Everything’ was released this week to a great reception, with the film coming to a climax with the 2022 World Championship final between the Rocket and Trump.
A memorable moment of that tournament was the epic hug between the two players after the match which seemed to last for an age on the Crucible floor.
The documentary revealed what the players said to each other during the mammoth embrace, with Trump thanking O’Sullivan for practicing with him years before and the influence he had on his young career.
Watching back that scene with the BBC, O’Sullivan became emotional again as he did at the time, clearly moved by the impact he had on the younger man.
‘That was a big match for me to play Judd,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘You know, he’s a phenomenal player. Me and Judd practised in the same facility and then Judd came down to London when he was about 18 or 19 [years old]. We used to practice in the same sort of place.
‘I think he kind of was watching and learning how I did my practice, what I practised. He even said it to me, he said when he decided to go back up to Bristol. I said “Why are you doing that?”
‘And he went “I learnt all I needed to learn off of you, the job was done. I knew there was nothing left for me to learn, so it’s time for me to go back to my family in Bristol”.
‘You know, that means a lot. I didn’t realise I had that impact on him.’
Trump has been the player of the season so far, lifting three trophies already and reaching two more finals as he looks to dislodge O’Sullivan from the world number one spot.
The Rocket would not be too upset to see the 2019 world champion do so, praising Trump’s snooker ethos and labelling him an all-time great even at this stage of his career.
‘I’ve always said I’d never begrudge Judd,’ O’Sullivan told reporters ahead of The Edge of Everything premiere. ‘He plays the game for the right reasons, he’s got a really good mentality toward the game.
‘I know him quite well, he’s quite quiet and shy, but he’s coming right out of his shell now. He’s matured a lot.
‘We’ve got great respect for each other, we really have. I’d say he’s an all-time great already and he’s still got years to go. A lot of respect for Judd.’
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