Masters 2026: Judd Trump Confesses Mark Allen’s Negative Game Can Drag Him Down

World number one Judd Trump has kicked off his 2026 Masters campaign in style, securing a 6-2 victory over Chinese legend Ding Junhui to book his spot in the quarterfinals.

Trump, who last year endured a full calendar trophy drought for the first time since 2014, looked back to his best in this match, putting Ding aside with breaks of 54, 69, 88, and two centuries of 116 and 117.

For the first tournament of 2026, Trump appears to have left last year’s disappointments behind, having spent the Christmas period working on his game.

Finding Confidence After the Break

Reflecting on his performance, Trump said: “Every game is so different here, so it’s nice to play well to know that my form is in there.”

“It’s always a little bit different coming back after Christmas and New Year without playing any competitive snooker since the UK [Championship]. I’m always a little bit on edge that who’s going to turn up out there.”

“I’ve put the work in. I was confident. I’ve had some good result recently even though I haven’t won. I’ve been very, very consistent, so it’s nice to get that performance out there.”

Quarterfinal Challenge: Mark Allen

Trump now faces former world number one Mark Allen, who himself beat this year’s World Championship runner-up Mark Williams, 6-2, in the opening round.

Trump admitted he’s a bit wary of facing Allen, believing the Northern Irishman has adopted a more negative style in recent seasons and lacks the free-flowing edge of most top 16 players. 

He also acknowledged that playing against Allen can sometimes affect his own performance.

“He’s a tough player. I think he’s a little bit different to the rest of the top players. I think the way he plays is maybe not as free flowing as the rest of them. He can be a little bit more tough to play,” Trump said. 

“Sometimes I get a little bit dragged down when I play him.”

“So, it’s important to get off to a good start against him.”

“He’s slowed down. His shot selection’s a bit more negative. He’s a little bit harder to watch I think nowadays.”

“When he’s at his best, when he’s playing quick and he’s going for his shots, he’s a lot better than when he’s slowing himself down.”

Allen Reflects on His Own Game

To give the Northern Irishman his due, we spoke to Allen after his first-round match, and even before Trump’s comments, he admitted he hasn’t been happy with his own form. 

Despite winning the English Open earlier this year and reaching four semi-finals, Allen confessed he’s been really dissatisfied with the way he’s been playing.

"No. Honestly, I think it's been my worst season for some time standard wise. Haven't played anywhere near as good as I should be,” Allen told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

"With how much I practise. It's embarrassing sometimes when I come to tournaments and play the way I play. Because I'm like, I just played a gazillion hours this week and it feels really good and then you turn up and you just don't perform. It's been frustrating this year."

"The fact that I won in Brentwood, I still win a lot of matches, but I think a lot of matches I've won. I'm just winning because I'm experienced. I know the right shots to play. I'm good under pressure.”

Trump will need to maintain his sharp form against Allen, who despite self-criticism, remains a dangerous opponent in the Masters quarterfinals. 

Both players have their own motivations: Trump to regain momentum after a trophy-less year, and Allen to rediscover the free-flowing game that has brought him so much success in the past.