Judd Trump urges snooker authorities to adopt new technology
Judd Trump has urged snooker authorities to embrace ball-repositioning technology after a frustrating delay overshadowed his British Open last-16 clash with Dylan Emery, reports BritPanorama.
The world No.5 fell two frames behind against the underdog before mounting a comeback, reeling off three consecutive frames to move within one of victory.
However, the match ground to a halt when Emery’s two attempted safety shots each disturbed the pink while playing around a cluster of reds. Referee Proletina Velichkova and marker Terry Camilleri then spent upwards of 12 minutes trying to restore the balls to their correct positions, leaving players and spectators exasperated.
Trump eventually sealed a 4-2 win following the lengthy interruption. Speaking after the match, he made clear his frustration with the stoppage: “I think it was 12 minutes or so. It was ages out there. It was boring enough for me and him, let alone the crowd and other people. It was way too long.”
The Bristol-born player stressed that no individual was to blame for the hold-up: “I think it’s no one in particular’s fault, I just think the technology isn’t good enough. It’s as simple as that, really,” he added. “I think when you’re looking at the screen, it’s so minute, the detail.”
Trump argued that existing solutions used elsewhere in the sport could easily resolve the problem. He referenced the overhead camera system deployed at Chinese events, which projects a circle around each ball and flashes to confirm when it has been returned to the correct spot. “I have no idea why they don’t use it here,” Trump said. “They have the technology in clubs there and I’ve used it before in Hong Kong where the camera counts the score and stuff like that. I don’t know why they don’t use it here.”
Beyond the technology debate, Trump also noted that pockets at British tournaments are considerably tighter than those at Chinese venues. He singled out the cushion rails as particularly unforgiving, warning that players must exercise extreme caution on certain tables.
The World Snooker Tour offered a brief response to the concerns raised, stating: “As always we aim to provide the best possible playing conditions.” Whether that extends to adopting the Chinese-style camera technology remains to be seen, though Trump’s comments will add pressure on organisers to consider the investment.
Trump now turns his attention to a quarter-final showdown later today against Zhao Xintong, the current world No.1. A victory would see the former world champion advance to the semi-finals of a tournament that has already provided plenty of talking points beyond the action on the baize.
It’s a reminder that while the sport evolves, so too do the challenges that accompany it, and players like Trump will continue to raise their voices in pursuit of progress.
