World News – CA – Trump and White disagree on O’Sullivan’s favorite at the Northern Ireland Open

Judd Trump claims he is the underdog going into another Northern Ireland Open final against Ronnie O’Sullivan, although Jimmy White correctly predicted that the bookies would make him a favorite.

For the third time in a row, Trump and O’Sullivan will meet in the finals of this event, with the Juddernaut winning both of the previous two encounters.

It’s a completely different tournament this year, being played behind closed doors in Milton Keynes rather than Belfast, but bookies expect the same result as 2018 and 19.

The world number one won 9-7 both times and while looking forward to another meeting with his snooker idol, he insists that he is not the favorite to get another win.

« It’s amazing to play it again. We only met so often in the final in Northern Ireland. « . It’s pretty strange how it went, « Trump told Eurosport after beating David Grace 6-2 in the semifinals.

« I love to play it, I seem to be thriving and doing my best. It’s nice to go into a game when you’re an outsider too.

« Everyone is the underdog against Ronnie, it’s just a new challenge for me. « . I’m always the favorite at events and when you play against Ronnie you get to play as free as possible.

« When you lose, you are expected to lose. If you win this is a bonus. « . You can go out and see what happens without worry. ‘

There is very little between players in betting. Betfair makes Trump a 4/5 favorite ahead of O’Sullivan, which is available from EVENS.

White got it right and said that number one in the world had the shorter chances, but expected an extremely close game.

« I’m not sure you are popular with the bookies, » the whirlwind told Trump.

“It’s good that Judd loved playing, practicing, and learning from Ronnie when he was a kid.

« Now it’s number one in the world against the world champion. You don’t get better in a final. « .

O’Sullivan was the first in the final after beating Ali Carter 6-3 and was not advised of the possibility of facing Trump again when asked about another possible meeting.

« I’m just happy to be in the final. « . I had a dubious start to the season by most standards, « O’Sullivan told Eurosport.

« It was fine, I feel like I played well. I’ve been involved in some good games. People played well against me. « .

“It’s nice for me to be in the final instead of seeing it or thinking about it. ‘

This event marks the first time O’Sullivan has made a quarter-finals this season while Trump has already won the English Open. Afterward, Ronnie said he couldn’t improve at a snooker table.

« I don’t think he can get any better, » O’Sullivan said after Trump defeated Neil Robertson in the final. « No, I don’t think you can get any better. It is now the finished item.

« He’s about to win tournaments, he’s a beast on the table, it’s that simple. « .

« People say, » take your practice form out there, « but he plays better than practice now, he’s so pleasant to win.

« The dream finale is just around the corner! » ð ?????? @ judd147t puts # ronnieo147 up a third fight in a row in the # NOIOpen finals by beating the brave David Grace 6-2 and ending with a break of 92! ð ???? º ð ??? ? ¥ ð ???? ± Tomorrow at Eurosport! image. Twitter. com / cHkeWgsfaf

« He doesn’t feel any pressure shots, he doesn’t really care. « . He’s in a great place with his game and it will take a ton of young players to attract him and put some pressure on.

« I think he’s a bit like Hendry, just built to play snooker. « . I have a really good temperament, a good mentality and everything I need to be super successful. ‘

Since Trump defeated O’Sullivan in the 2018 Northern Ireland Open final, they have only met three times.

Trump hit the rocket comfortably in the 2019 Masters Final before being ousted by him in the Tour Championship that year and then claiming a second win at the Northern Ireland Open.

He hopes to be able to add another victory over the world champion to his résumé in two sessions on Sunday.

MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan is delighted to end the seedy start of the season as he reaches the Northern Ireland Open final

Ronnie O’Sullivan, Northern Ireland Open, Snooker, Matthew Stevens, Judd Trump, Ali Carter