Judd Trump has withdrawn from the Scottish Open later this month after sealing a dramatic UK Championship victory. The 35-year-old had been due to face Ishpreet Singh Chadha in Edinburgh but has now pulled out.
Trump defeated Barry Hawkins 10-8 in an epic final at York’s Barbican. He maintained his composure to seal the match at 9-8 after Hawkins had raced back from 5-2 down.
However, the Ace has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Scottish Open. No reason has been provided for his absence. Singh Chadha will receive a bye to the last 32 having been initially drawn to face Trump.
“Judd Trump has pulled out of this month’s BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh,” a statement issued by the World Snooker Tour read.
“Trump was due to face Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the last 64 on Monday, December 9 – instead Singh Chadha receives a bye to the last 32.”
The tournament is due to be played from December 9-15. The rest of snooker’s big-hitters are expected to be in attendance.
Trump’s recent triumph was only his second at the UK Championship. The world No. 1 has enjoyed a fantastic year and will be the favourite heading into the other two Triple Crown events, and will be determined to win the World Championship after failing to succeed at The Crucible last year.
After beating Hawkins, Trump admitted that he was ‘relieved’ after his opponent mounted a storming comeback. Hawkins also enjoyed plenty of support inside the venue, piling the pressure on Trump to see through his victory.
“It was just relief at the end,” he said. “After it got to 9-6, I was thinking that I was going to get some good chances to get over the line. I broke off and it was 9-7. I had a good chance at a long pot, I thought it was a really big shot and I missed it, 9-8.
“Then, in the end, I missed a couple but I ended up getting a really good chance. Fine margins like that are the difference at this level.
“I was dreading going 9-9, just because of the momentum that he had. He had a lot of support out there, he is such a nice guy. I think everyone wanted him to win apart from my family.”
