Relations could be spicy at the UK Championship on Tuesday when Neil Robertson takes on Judd Trump. Robertson sealed his place in the main draw last week, coming through qualifying with wins over Oliver Lines and Matthew Stevens.
But he’s been handed a tough first round clash in York, with Trump currently ranked as the world No.1.
The Australian however, can take heart from the fact he beat ‘The Ace in the Pack’ last week at the Champion of Champions tournament.
And that outcome led to a bizarre post-match exchange between the two, with Robertson sarcastically accusing his English rival of putting a ‘curse’ on him. It followed comments from Trump that Robertson had been “very lucky” to win their quarter-final 6-4 and hadn’t deserved to go through.
Robertson’s apparent luck ran out in the final four though, losing 6-2 to eventual winner Mark Williams. And the 2010 world champion then took to Instagram to dig out Trump, posting a video message to his rival.
“Wowee… so Judd, after our match when you called me ‘so lucky’, I’ve had anything but luck,” he claimed. “Could you please remove the curse you have put upon me?”
Continuing his verbal jibes, he continued: “Was it the thin red, two cushions in behind the yellow touching ball, that sent you over the edge? If so, yes man, can you please remove the curse because they’re playing a game… like this isn’t much fun.
“I do like a challenge. But enough is enough, you’ve had your fun. Remove the curse to allow me to play the game with equal luck as everyone. Thank you, mate.”
Trump didn’t respond to the video, although a number of snooker fans weighed in with humorous comments. Robertson, 42, boasts a following of 112,000 on the social media platform.
Fans will now wait with intrigue to see if there is any hostility between the two players when they meet again. The pair are certainly no strangers to each other, having now met 27 times with Trump leading the head-to-head record 17-10.
Trump, a semi-finalist last year in York, is also out to win the Triple Crown title for the first time since 2010. Robertson is a three-time winner, last prevailing in an empty arena in the Covid-affected 2020 tournament.