World Snooker Championship 2026: Judd Trump Thrives Despite Stop-Start Season and Dubai Uncertainty

World number one Judd Trump began his 2026 World Snooker Championship campaign with a solid 10-5 victory over Gary Wilson, though the scoreline didn’t fully reflect the early challenge he faced.

The opening session proved far from straightforward for the ‘Juddernaught’. Trailing 4-1 at one stage, Trump benefited from a couple of fortunate moments among the balls to claw his way back and edge a 5-4 lead heading into the evening.

The second session was a much more comfortable affair for the 2019 world champion. Trump dominated proceedings, winning five of the six frames to book his place in the second round with authority.

Green Carpet Absence Sparks Debate

Attention post-match quickly shifted away from the table and onto Trump’s disrupted preparation, particularly his absence from the traditional pre-tournament green carpet event at the Crucible.

Trump, alongside Ronnie O'Sullivan, did not attend the mandatory appearance, prompting criticism from sections of the snooker community. 

Among the most vocal was 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy.

“I think it's become normal that they don't turn up for these types of things. I think it's a real shame, and they probably could both have done a little bit more to help promote the game over the years,” Murphy said.

“I think it might give those two an image problem when the public tag onto that and realise that two of the biggest stars of the game weren't here for the opening day. It's a strange one.”

Trump Responds to No-Show Questions

When asked about his absence, Trump chose to keep details private, citing personal reasons.

“No, it was something to do with my family. I haven’t told anyone. I just want to keep it a secret,” Trump said when questioned on his absence.

Disrupted Season and Unusual Preparation

Trump’s preparation for the tournament has been anything but conventional. 

Now based in Dubai, he has spent time practising in Thailand due to geopolitical tensions impacting the region.

Earlier in the season, he revealed he had effectively been left without a stable base due to the wider effects of conflict in the Middle East, forcing him to adapt his schedule and training environment.

Despite those challenges, Trump managed to return to Dubai between the Tour Championship in Manchester and the World Championship in Sheffield, allowing for more consistent preparation.

He also revisited earlier issues surrounding his brother’s visa, which had previously limited his ability to practise regularly.

“Not before the world championship, no. Before it was a little bit difficult, I had to stay in Thailand for a month, but no, I've managed to, to practise for the world championship. It's been more back to normal,” Trump added. 

“It's been a stop start season for me. I think the start of the season up until, I think it was January that my brother wasn't able to come in, so I wasn't able to practise. And after period, I've been a lot more consistent and reached a lot of semi-finals and finals.”

“It's been a strange season for me, a lot more going off the table than I've ever had really but still been decent.”

No Return to the UK on the Horizon

With ongoing logistical challenges and travel considerations, including tax implications, Trump was asked whether a return to the UK might be on the cards.

For now, that seems firmly off the table.

“I won't be moving back to the UK. Maybe I'll go somewhere different. But definitely won’t be coming back to the UK anytime soon,” he concluded.