Mark Williams Adds Fuel to the Judd Trump “All-Time Great” Debate.
Wales’ three-time World Champion Mark Williams has entered the heated discussion over whether Judd Trump deserves a place among snooker’s all-time legends — and his verdict? “Not yet.” Speaking to _Snooker Scene_ ahead of the upcoming Welsh Open, Williams acknowledged Trump’s dominance in recent seasons but cautioned against premature canonization.
“Judd is absolutely phenomenal right now — the stats speak for themselves,” Williams said. “He’s world No. 1, holds the record for most ranking titles in a single season, and has racked up 22 career ranking crowns. But greatness isn’t just about trophies; it’s about longevity, consistency across eras, and how you stack up against the giants who came before you.”
Williams pointed out that while Trump has won three Triple Crown events (the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters), he trails legends like Ronnie O’Sullivan (39 Triple Crowns), Stephen Hendry (18), John Higgins (9), and even Williams himself (7) in major titles. “Judd hasn’t yet reached the kind of milestone consistency that defines the very top tier,” Williams argued. “He’s closing in fast, but history judges you on what you leave behind — not just what you’re doing today.”
Interestingly, Williams referenced his own head-to-head record against Trump: 9 wins to Trump’s 21 over 30 meetings shows Trump’s recent edge, but Williams noted that many of those victories came during Trump’s peak years from 2018 onwards. “I’ve beaten him plenty too — especially in clutch moments like the 2020 Tour Championship semifinal,” Williams recalled. “That tells me he’s vulnerable under pressure sometimes, which isn’t characteristic of the absolute greats.”
Williams also highlighted Trump’s lack of World Championship titles beyond his 2019 win as a sticking point for critics. “One World title is brilliant, but compare that to Hendry’s seven, O’Sullivan’s eight, or my own three — plus Selby’s four. Judd needs more big ones to cement his legacy.”
Yet Williams tempered his critique with respect: “Don’t get me wrong — Judd belongs in the conversation. He’s changed how we play the game with his aggressive style and scoring power. If he adds another World title or wins multiple Triple Crowns in one season like Hendry did, then yeah — he’ll be knocking on the door of the all-time top five.”
The debate rages on. Some analysts argue Trump’s modern-era achievements outweigh older benchmarks, citing his record-breaking season wins and century tally (over 800) as evidence he’s already among the elite ². Others, like Williams, insist legacy requires deeper roots in history.
“Time will tell,” Williams concluded. “For now, I’d put him just outside the top six — ahead of Robertson, but behind Selby, Higgins, Davis, Hendry, and O’Sullivan
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