Judd Trump: 'Snooker gives me too many sleepless nights, no wonder I lost the plot'

Updated 12/12/2017 at 10:22 GMT

Judd Trump has revealed he lost his temper at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast last month because the unrelenting World Snooker tour has turned him into a bad-tempered insomniac.

Judd Trump in action in Glasgow.

Image credit: Eurosport

Speaking to Eurosport after making breaks of 82 and 53 in his 4-0 win over Robin Hull in the first round of the Scottish Open in Glasgow, world number three Trump explained the reasons why his recent travels have become travails.

Less than a week after losing 10-3 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the Shanghai Masters, Trump was bundled out of the Northern Ireland Open by Stuart Carrington 4-2 in the first round, a match he ended by smashing open the pack of reds with his cue in a fit of pique.

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It was a little bit naughty from a Bristol lad famed for his "naughty" brand of attacking snooker.

Former winner Trump also lost 6-2 to Graeme Dott in the last 32 of the UK Championship in another crushing blow last week, but says he is going back to basics to rediscover his form.

Rather than worrying about the bed of the table, getting to bed has been Trump's biggest concern.

"You expect to play well at these tournaments, but then you don't sleep the night before due to jet lag," said Trump. "You only get one hour's sleep, you are in a bad mood and are trying your best. People don't realise that side of it.

I think with all the travelling and not playing at my best, I shouldn't have played in Belfast. I flew back from China the day before, and when you aren't sleeping you aren't really yourself. I wasn't really enjoying it.

"People just see you on TV and expect you to pot everything. Sometimes it is quite tough to take. It is not like everything is in the UK."

Since the outset of November, Trump has played two events in China, one in Coventry, one in Belfast and one in York. He concludes his year here in Glasgow.

Men in bow ties have suddenly become intrepid explorers, but Trump admits it is hardly a lavish lifestyle when you are spending more time on the move than the white ball.

"I think a lot of people don't understand," said Trump, who won back-to-back European Masters titles in October.

They think snooker players have got it easy, but when you are playing at tournaments you want to give it your best shot. There is a lot of travelling abroad. It is important to enjoy the snooker, and not worry about too much when you play badly.

"I think you want to win everything you go in, but there are a lot more events now.

"I think you get a lot more lows than you used to because you are playing in a lot more tournaments.

"You have to lower you expectations and try to enjoy it a bit more because if you are playing every single week, you are going to have a lot more low points.

"You need to remember that, and remember why you are playing. I have to try to enjoy it rather than just think about winning tournaments."

Trump was tipped as a future world champion when he bore a path to the 2011 World Championship final as a 21-year-old qualifier, losing 18-15 to John Higgins in an epic contest.

Stiill only 28, he hopes to rediscover the promise of his formative years.

"For me, this week is getting back to enjoying snooker like I did when I first came back on the scene," said Trump.

"There are so many tournaments. We are very fortunate to be playing snooker at this time. I think there are certain people managing their expectations better than me which hasn't helped me during matches."