Snooker: Judd Trump was disappointed to be snubbed by Ronnie O’Sullivan after his amazing 147

Judd Trump has admitted he was disappointed that rival Ronnie O’Sullivan did not congratulate him for his incredible 147 break in their Champion of Champions final clash, saying an acknowledgement was ‘the normal thing to do’. 

Snooker legend O’Sullivan held off a spirited challenge from the defending champion Trump to win the title for the fourth time – but he found himself under fire from pundits for failing to shake his rival’s hand after clearing 15 reds, 15 blacks and all the colours in one go while 6-1 down.

And the American has now spoken out on the incident, saying he was expecting the Rocket to embrace him after his superb achievement.  

Snooker star Judd Trump (L) has admitted he expected Ronnie O’Sullivan (R) to congratulate him for his amazing 147 break in their Champion of Champions final clash 

Judd Trump was met by cheers of jubilation from the crowd after his spectacular break, before going on to lose to his rival 

‘You celebrate making the 147, turn around and put your cue down — and I kind of expected Ronnie to get up and say well done. 

‘That is just the normal thing to do. It is a special feat for anyone and it would have been nice to get his seal of approval.

‘At that point in the final, when he was still 6-2 up, he knows if he plays half-decent he is going to win. He is too good not to. So you would have expected him to be relaxed enough to say good things, especially after what happened at the World Championships final.’

O’Sullivan defended himself after the match, claiming he was focused on the match and that he didn’t care what people thought of his behaviour. 

‘It’s brilliant Judd made the 147, but we still had a match to play as far as I was concerned,’ he said. ‘People have got their opinions and I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or what I do or don’t do.’ 

O’Sullivan’s actions were even stranger given he’s made a record fifteen 147 breaks himself

It came after pundits Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty ripped into O’Sullivan while witnessing his etiquette.

Seven-time champion Hendry said: ‘Look, no one took more displeasure in their opponents doing things well against them more than me.

‘But shake the guy’s hand. He has made a 147, it’s in the final and you are 6-1 up. Shake the guy’s hand. It was incredible.

‘When I made the other one against him he had to shake my hand…because it was the end of the match.’ 

Irish snooker legend Doherty said: ‘It was a magnificent break from Judd, one of the best 147s you will see. There were a lot of really tough shots and under such pressure at 6-1 behind. 

O’Sullivan remained in his seat as his opponent completed his sensational 147 break

‘I was a little bit surprised that Ronnie didn’t come out and shake Judd’s hand and congratulate him – there was no reaction from him – it was like it was just another frame.’

Trump fought back from 6-1 down to trail 7-6 in the best-of-19 final in Bolton.

However, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan then reeled off the next three frames to seal a 10-6 victory and claim the first prize of £150,000.

‘Even when I was 6-1 up I never once thought about the lead because I know what Judd is like, he can come out and do what he done, pull me back to 7-6, but I was just pleased how I dug in at the end there,’ O’Sullivan told ITV4.

O’Sullivan said he was focused on the game and doesn’t care what people think about him

‘I’m not as hungry as probably all the other players are, I’m just happy to be here, I like to compete. I just take every match as it comes, I enjoy being out here and it’s like a holiday for me.’

Trump did not score a point in the first two frames as O’Sullivan made breaks of 96 and 103 on his way to a seemingly commanding 6-1 lead, but Trump then brought the capacity crowd to their feet after potting his 147 in the eighth frame.

The former world champion, who also made a 147 in the final of the inaugural Turkish Masters in March, took the last frame of the session with a 96 clearance and although O’Sullivan began the evening session with a century, he did not pot a single ball in the next three frames.

Breaks of 82 and 100 helped Trump reduce his deficit to a single frame, only for O’Sullivan to respond brilliantly with contributions of 124, 85 and 81 to wrap up victory.

Asked about his 147, Trump said: ‘It’s always special to make them and even more special in a final against Ronnie. It’s another thing ticked off the CV but obviously I’m disappointed to lose.’