Judd Trump is nearing his target of eclipsing 100 century breaks this season and pocketing a tidy bonus from it as a result.
The world number one has already contributed five tons in his two victories so far at this week’s World Open, taking his tally during the campaign to 79.
Trump made a brace in his held-over qualifying fixture with Xing Zihao before going one better with a hat-trick against Long Zehuang, winning the two games with an aggregate score of 10-1.
The 35 year-old is already the runaway leader in terms of prize money earned across the 2024/25 snooker season with more than £1 million to his name.
But the reigning UK and Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters champion could add another £100,000 to his bank account if he continues his prolific streak of scoring in the next couple of months.
That is the hefty jackpot on offer for the player who can first reach a hundred century breaks during the ongoing campaign.
Trump, who faces Joe O’Connor in the next round on Tuesday, has potentially five more matches to play in Yushan this week.
Then follows the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship, and the Tour Championship before the season-concluding World Championship in Sheffield.
Unless Trump suffers a sudden and improbable collapse in form, it seems a certainty now that he will surpass the milestone before long.
The single-season record of 103 tons made by Neil Robertson during the 2013/14 term will also be within his sights.
“It’s been a good start to the tournament,” Judd Trump told the World Snooker Tour after compiling breaks of 121, 108, and 101 against Long.
“You can’t really ask for any more, I’ve scored pretty heavily in the first two games. I could have had even more centuries.”
“I’m happy with how I’m playing, but things will get tougher as the tournament goes on. The players will play better.
“So I’m happy with how I’m playing, but I’ll need to keep it up in the next round as well.
“Looking back, I probably should have entered a few more tournaments. I didn’t think I’d get close [to the century of centuries], but I’ve had my time off.
“Maybe that has relaxed me, and I’ve scored extremely heavy the last few months. It’ll be nice to ruin the Christmas party and take the £100,000 party money away.”
“In the past, it’s done me no harm,” Trump added, referring to how he used to play in most events before deciding that a change of course was required this season.
In recent months, the new Hong Kong resident has skipped the Shoot Out, the Scottish Open, and the Welsh Open.
“I’ve played really well. I just think that now there are so many opportunities for the players that we’re able to take a week off here and there.”
“I can concentrate on tournaments that maybe, in my eyes, are a little bit bigger or where I enjoy playing a little bit more.
“I think it’s nice to be in that position when I had the great start to the season. Sometimes, you don’t always have that opportunity, and you’re forced to play.
“On the positive in terms of snooker, it’s nice to be able to have that opportunity to take the odd tournament off and stay fresh for the real big ones coming up.”
Reigning World Open champion Judd Trump is one of only seven members from the top 16 who have made it through to the last 32 in Yushan.
Home favourite Ding Junhui, who Trump beat in last year’s final, and recent Masters champion Shaun Murphy are still in the top half of the draw.
Barry Hawkins and Ali Carter are also still in this section, which looks to be much tougher on paper.
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins, who could meet each other as early as the round of 16, are the only members from the elite bracket of the rankings in the bottom section of the draw.
Indeed, there is a huge opportunity for one of the players involved in the third quarter with Tom Ford and Elliot Slessor representing the only players from the world’s top 32 who are still in the hunt for glory.
2025 World Open Draw
Round of 32 (bo9)
Matches to be played on Tuesday, February 25th
Judd Trump vs Joe O’Connor
Antoni Kowalski vs Michael Holt
Hossein Vafaei vs Ding Junhui
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh vs Shaun Murphy
David Lilley vs Wu Yize
Ali Carter vs Jack Lisowski
Ben Woollaston vs Barry Hawkins
Ryan Day vs Louis Heathcote
Liu Hongyu vs Elliot Slessor
Zak Surety vs Duane Jones
Tom Ford vs Daniel Wells
Jimmy Robertson vs Aaron Hill
Tian Pengfei vs Pang Junxu
Stan Moody vs Xu Si
Robbie Williams vs John Higgins
Zhou Yuelong vs Kyren Wilson
Click here for the latest results and scores
(snooker.org)
Featured image credit: WST
