Ronnie O’Sullivan is a great addition to snooker events for fans, but when he withdraws it is quickly forgotten about, feels Judd Trump.
The Rocket is playing at the German Masters this week, but has not been seen too regularly this season, with this his first outing since a first round defeat at the UK Championship in December.
Before his opening victory against Long Zehuang in Berlin on Tuesday, the 50-year-old hadn’t won a professional match since November 3 when he beat Sanderson Lam in the second round of the International Championship.
O’Sullivan pulled out of the Masters earlier this month, but Trump feels his absence didn’t hamper the tournament and was forgotten about as the event rolled on.
On the Rocket competing in Germany this week, for the first time in nine years, Trump said: ‘It’s good for the crowd, it’s good for his fans. I think when he’s in an event it’s great for the local fans that they get the chance to see him play.
‘But I think as the rounds go on, like at the Masters, you forget sometimes that he was not even in it.
‘He’s got a lot of fans around the world and I’m glad that he comes and people get the chance to see him because it’s not every year he travels the world and plays in this kind of event.
‘He’s one of the great sports stars and it’s nice that the world gets the chance to see him every now and then.’
Down to inactivity and form struggles, O’Sullivan has not won a ranking title since January 2024 and a tournament of any sort since March ’24.
Such is the reputation of the Rocket that he still tends to come in as one of the favourites with the bookmakers, which Trump feels is a decision made on reputation rather than results.
‘I don’t know whose eyes that’s in, to be second or third favourite. It’s just the name isn’t it really,’ said Trump. ‘I think on form he’s obviously probably not second or third favourite, but I think the bookies are very weary of what Ronnie is going to turn up.
‘I think he’s always going to be an amazing player until he’s 90 years old or whatever. He’s always going to be unbelievable.
‘It just becomes more difficult the less you play because you’re just not quite as sharp. But he’s still an unbelievable player on his day.’
Trump and O’Sullivan are in the same half of the draw at the German Masters, on course to meet in the semi-finals if they can build on their opening wins in Berlin.
The Ace was extremely comfortable in his 5-0 win over Cheung Ka Wei on Tuesday morning, setting up a clash with Ryan Day next.
The Rocket showed plenty of signs of rustiness in his victory over Long Zehuang, but was not punished and ultimately secured a 5-1 win.
Next up for the seven-time world champion is old rival Ali Carter in the last 32 on Wednesday evening.
