Judd Trump tipped to win World Snooker Championship
'Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan says his 25-year-old English rival has long been hailed as a rising star and will go into the tournament as favourite
Five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has labelled English rival Judd Trump the favourite to win the World Snooker Championship, which starts on Saturday.
The pair have met in three finals so far this season, with O'Sullivan leading 2-1, although the 25-year-old Trump impressed when he won the World Grand Prix.
Trump, who lost to Scotland's John Higgins in the 2011 World Championship final, has long been hailed as one of snooker's rising stars and O'Sullivan said: "Judd has now beaten me in a big final and I think that was important for him.
I just see Judd as the player in front at the moment. We have seen what can happen when he gets on a roll
"I would say he goes into the championship as the favourite - but, of course, there are people capable of upsetting him."
"The Rocket" added: "Hopefully, I am one of those and you are looking at players like Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson, while John Higgins has come back to some better form.
"But I just see Judd as the player in front at the moment. We have seen what can happen when he gets on a roll."
O'Sullivan, beaten by Selby in last year's World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre, will face tournament debutant Craig Steadman in the first round.