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5 things you may not know about world snooker champion Judd Trump

Trump used to describe himself as a “part-time snooker player, full-time international playboi” on his Twitter handle.

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Judd Trump has been crowned world snooker champion for the first time with a record-equalling seven centuries in a 18-9 victory over John Higgins at the Crucible.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five things you may not know about the 29-year-old from Bristol.

Will he better a Spider?

Trump used to describe himself as a “part-time snooker player, full-time international playboi” on his Twitter handle. To celebrate reaching his first world final in 2011, he splashed out on a £110,000 Ferrari Spider.

Practice makes perfect

Judd Trump
Judd Trump scored his first 147 break as a boy during practice at Keynsham Snooker Club (PA Archive/PA Images)

Trump won his first snooker tournament against adults when he was eight years old. He triumphed at Keynsham Snooker Club despite giving all his opponents a 17-point head-start. Two years later, he scored his first 147 break at the same club in a practice frame.

Teenage Trump makes history in Wales

Judd Trump
As a young teenager, Judd Trump made history at the Welsh Open (Anthony Devlin/PA)

At the age of 13, Trump beat former world number eight Mike Hallett 4-2 in the final of the Pontin’s Open in Prestatyn. Three years later he became the youngest player to qualify for the final stages of a ranking event at the Welsh Open.

Expensive taste in shoes

Judd Trump's shoes
Judd Trump has been known to wear these shoes at various competitions over the last few years (Adam Davy/PA)

Trump wore a pair of £15,000 Louboutin Rollerboy Spikes during his 2013 Masters match against Barry Hawkins, but ditched them when he trailed 2-1. After going on to win the match, Trump said: “I probably need more prize money to keep me in shoes but I’ll have to get World Snooker to put in a new carpet as I was sliding all over it.”

O’Sullivan was role model

Judd Trump (right)
Judd Trump (right) first met his idol Ronnie O’Sullivan (left) at the age of 10 (Martin Rickett/PA)

Trump admitted he grew up “wanting to be the next Ronnie O’Sullivan”. He first met his idol at the age of 10 after O’Sullivan’s then manager Ian Doyle read about Trump’s exploits in a local newspaper. Trump’s reputation had already risen to such an extent that bookmakers Ladbrokes slashed his odds on winning the world title by 2010 from 1000-1 to 200-1.

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