Champion John Higgins admits he was nervous against Judd Trump: 2011 World Snooker Championship
Scotsman, John Higgins, grabbed the Crucible gold for the fourth time in his career after an astounding final encounter of the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship 2011 against the 21-year-old Bristolian,
Judd Trump. The 35-year-old Scot accepted that he was quite nervous playing against the youngster, Trump, and was scared to death while cueing safety shots.
The World Number 2, Higgins, hailed his final-match opponent, Trump, as one of the strongest competitors he ever faced. Higgins believes that the youngster is the future of the game.
“He made the tournament. He played a brand of snooker that's not really been seen before,” Higgins said. “It's just an unbelievable feeling to beat Judd like that. I was frightened to death to even
play safe as I knew Judd would knock a long pot in and he's an incredible talent.”
The 21-year-old, Trump, entered the Crucible as a qualifier but with his steady potting display, he grabbed quick attention in the Championship, as he moved up beating Neil Robertson, Martin Gould,
Graeme Dott and Ding Junhui. He has emerged as a new sensation in the game of snooker and has made the game famous amongst the youngsters.
The World Snooker Chairman, Barry Hearn, stated, “If I had to write down what I need, I’d actually give a description of Judd Trump — young, crazy hairstyle, aspirational figure, motivates young people,
widens the audience, entertains.”
The moment both finalists entered the arena, they received a thundering applause and a standing ovation. The pair was staggered by the splendid greetings they received.
“I have never heard anything like that in my life, the ground was shaking in the arena.The hairs were standing up on the back of my neck, and you couldn't help feeling that snooker was back in the
big-time,” Higgins added.
Meanwhile, the qualifiers for Q School started on Monday, May 2 with 124 entrants at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield. The event will run from May 11 to 28 and the final 12 players will earn
a place on the main tour of next season.
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