Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan are now both based in Dubai and, while it hasn’t happened yet, Trump says there is no reason they wouldn’t battle it out on the practice table in the Middle East.
The two snooker stars have relocated from England to the UAE, O’Sullivan doing so this summer while Trump has been there longer, also spending time in Hong Kong.
It is a significant departure from the Rocket’s upbringing in Essex and the Ace growing up in Bristol, but both are enjoying their new lives abroad.
Matt Selt has also moved over to Dubai and all three play in the same practice facility, although there has yet to be the heavyweight practice match between Trump and O’Sullivan in the new surroundings.
The pair have practised together before, when Trump moved over to Essex as a young professional, so he sees no reason why they won’t play each other again…if they can sort their schedules out.
‘There are two private rooms,’ Trump told Metro of his Dubai practice base. ‘I normally go in earlier, I think Ronnie goes in a little bit after when I’m there so I don’t really see him very often.
‘Me, Matt and Ronnie are all in the same place, it’s a very nice practice facility, very nice to be there.’
O’Sullivan echoed those thoughts on the training based, telling Metro: ‘It’s probably one of the best practice facilities I’ve ever had. Great, great set up there. And the people there are amazing.’
On the prospect of the two former world champions taking each other on in Dubai, Trump said: ‘We’ve had a lot of practice down the years when I was younger, we practised together quite a few times so there’s no reason why not.
‘I’m sure at some point if we’re both in there or we both need to really sharpen ourselves up, I think there’s no reason why we wouldn’t.’
During their memorably epic hug after the 2022 World Championship final, Trump said to the Rocket: ‘Thank you for letting me practice with you. You took your time out for me and I really appreciate that.’
There is enormous respect between the two, but it’s not like they have been hanging out in their new home.
‘No, I think I’ve seen him once in Dubai maybe, if that, I don’t think I’ve even seen him in the time I’ve been there,’ said Trump.
‘I get up a lot different now from the UK. I used to go in [to practice] maybe half ten, eleven. In Dubai I’m in half eight, nine, practice for three hours or whatever.
‘I’m out by twelve or one o’clock so I have the rest of the day to myself.’
Trump has swapped Dubai for Belfast this week where he is bidding to win the Northern Ireland Open for a fifth time.
O’Sullivan is not playing, but will be back in action at the International Championship in Nanjing, starting November 2.