Northern Ireland Open

Snooker's Trump Still Holding All The Aces

Judd Trump looks the man to beat on snooker's global circuit, looking ahead to the 19.com Northern Ireland Open in Belfast in November.

Trump won the tournament last year at the Belfast Waterfront, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-7 in a fantastic final, coming from 7-6 down to win the last three frames with a stunning burst of break-building.

This year's world ranking event at the Waterfront runs from November 11-17 and once again it will feature 128 of the world's best players, all starting in a flat draw and needing to win seven matches to take the famous Alex Higgins Trophy and a top prize of £70,000.

Victory proved an inspiration for 30-year-old Trump last year as he went on to enjoy his best ever season, winning the Masters, the World Grand Prix and the World Championship. The latter success at the Crucible gave him snooker's biggest title for the first time and saw him become the first player to earn over £1 million in a single season. He set a new record of seven century breaks during an 18-9 demolition of John Higgins in the final.
And Trump has started the new campaign in the same manner, winning the International Championship and taking the world number one ranking from rival O'Sullivan.

"To get my foot back on the gas and win in the first event shows just how hard I've worked in the off season," said Bristol's Trump.

"You never know what is around the corner. As long as I keep preparing how I have done, putting in the work and being mentally right out there then there is no reason why I can't keep winning. Sooner or later everyone has a bad spell. Hopefully mine isn't for another ten years."

Tickets for the Northern Ireland Open are on sale now. They start at just £10 and fans can see a wide range of players during the early rounds for the price of a single ticket.

The 19.com Northern Ireland Open runs at the Waterfront Hall from 11 - 17 November, and tickets are available now. For more details go to worldsnooker.com, waterfront.co.uk or call 028 9033 4400. See page 24 for a ticket giveaway...

Win Final Tickets For Snooker's Northern Ireland Open

Snooker's best players will be in Belfast in November for the 19.com Northern Ireland Open, and here's your chance to win a pair of tickets to the final.
The tournament runs from November 11 to 17 at the Belfast Waterfront. Judd Trump won the title last year, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-7 in an epic final. Tickets are on sale and start at just £10 – for all details see worldsnooker.com/tickets or call 028 9033 4400.
And here's your chance to WIN two tickets to both sessions of the showpiece final on Sunday November 17th.

Just answer this easy question:

How many pockets does a standard snooker table have?
a) 4
b) 6
c) 8

To be entered into a draw for a pairs of tickets, simply email your answer to win@thebiglist.co.uk, putting 'Snooker' in the subject line and include your contact details. Usual conditions apply, entrants must be 18 and over. Please note that the prize does not include travel or accommodation expenses.