Judd Trump gave himself a week off during the Welsh Open as he looks to avoid burnout and end the season in sensational style, starting at the Players Championship.
The 34-year-old has had a superb season so far, winning the English Open, Wuhan Open, Northern Ireland Open and German Masters, deciding to skip the Welsh Open last week after a packed campaign.
He has returned to action at the Players Championship in Telford this week and started well, beating Chris Wakelin 6-2 in the opening round on Monday night.
After a short holiday to recharge the batteries he is back to business and wants to add more silverware to his collection leading up to the World Championship in April.
‘Now there’s a few tournaments, no more holidays, time to knuckle down,’ he told ITV after beating Wakelin.
‘I feel fully rested. I needed that coming up to the World Championships. Before, a few seasons I’ve gone in kind of burned out. This season I feel refreshed and raring to go.
‘The season I’ve had so far. Seven finals, winning four, it’s been an amazing season, it’s about kicking on now. I’ve had my rest, time to get back to work now.’
Trump admitted that he felt a bit of jealousy watching the end of the Welsh Open final on Sunday as Gary Wilson beat Martin O’Donnell, feeling he should have been there.
‘After a few days off I like to watch the other players to get that determination back,’ he said. ‘Thinking I should be in that final, even though I didn’t enter the event I still wanted to be in the final.’
Also starting the Players Championship impressively was John Higgins who beat Ding Junhui on Monday night, with a century in the first and last frame.
Higgins will face either Noppon Saengkham or Zhang Anda in the quarter-finals, while Trump meets Tom Ford or Ali Carter.
MORE : John Higgins explains ‘what a lot of players don’t realise’ about Judd Trump
MORE : Gary Wilson adds to ‘mad few months’ by claiming Welsh Open title
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