Ronnie O’Sullivan explains how he helped out Judd Trump early in his career
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Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump practicing together over a decade ago taught Trump just how hard you need to work to reach the top of snooker, reckons the Rocket. A young Trump moved to Romford in 2010 to practice alongside a string of top players, including O’Sullivan, who had then won three of his seven world titles.
There will have been some spectacular snooker played between the two, but O’Sullivan thinks it was more his work ethic than his skills on the table that Trump will have really learned from. Now 49 years old, O’Sullivan reflects on what has made him the consensus greatest snooker player ever and feels it is hard work more than natural talent.
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On practicing with Trump, he told WST: ‘He has amazing talent, he didn’t need to learn from me. But being in that environment when we practised at the same club in Romford helped him because he saw how hard I worked. ‘A lot of people think it’s just talent, but if you ask players who have spent time with me, they are surprised at how dedicated I am and how seriously I take practice.
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‘When I was young I saw Stephen Hendry practise and realised he was the hardest worker on the tour. It’s true in any sport. That’s why they are the best, because they are willing to put the work in.’. Trump spoke of working alongside the Rocket at the time, saying the practice sessions helped take the fear factor away from his rival.
