Ronnie O'Sullivan rival wants 'final showdown' with Rocket at World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan has had one of the best seasons of his career (Picture: Getty Images)

Judd Trump is very keen for a Crucible clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan this year, hoping to prove that he is currently the dominant force in the game and not the Rocket.

There is no doubt that the two have been the standout players of the season so far, although few would question that O’Sullivan is leading the way.

The world number one has won the UK Championship, Masters, World Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters and World Masters of Snooker and has beaten Trump in their two meetings this campaign.

The Ace has had a stunning season as well, with triumphs at the English Open, Wuhan Open, Northern Ireland Open, German Masters and World Open, with the two men dominating the 2023/24 campaign between them.

Trump may be just behind his rival, but he sees the chance to surpass him by meeting at the World Championship and scrapping it out for supremacy.

As they are on the same side of the draw it would be a semi-final clash and Trump would love to face the Rocket in the final four.

Asked if it matters who he plays at the Crucible, Trump told Stephen Hendry on his Cue Tips channel: ‘For me it does. Just because of the season we’ve both had, it’s perfect to have the final match-up, I think it’s going to be the semi-final in the Worlds.

Judd Trump has added five ranking titles to his collection this season (Picture: VCG)

‘The way the season has gone, there’s never really been two people that have completely dominated. I think for the game it would be good if we both meet and have a final showdown for who is the Player of the Season.’

The ideal situation for Trump would obviously be to beat O’Sullivan in the semis and then go on to win the World Championship for a second time.

However, if that does not come to pass, he wants the Rocket to lift the trophy for an eighth time and cap off a stunning campaign at 48 years old.

‘After this season I’d like one of us to really finish it off in style,’ Trump told Metro. ‘Obviously I want to do it, but I’d prefer he does it over someone else if it’s not me. Just to top off an incredible season.

‘If someone else wins it it might take the shine off our achievements. Most seasons people say it’s wide open, but on form this season it’s probably not really, on form there’s not many people playing that well.’

Ronnie O’Sullivan heads to Sheffield as favourite with the bookmakers (Picture: Getty Images)

On his season so far, Trump added: ‘It’s been pretty consistent. The last season, even though I won the Masters the consistency wasn’t there.

‘Even though I lost in the final early on in the season to Barry Hawkins [at the European Masters] I felt my game was there straight away.

‘After I got my first win, the second and third came very quickly after. Then you’re settled for the season, relaxing into the season and I’ve managed to pick up the odd one after that.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.