Judd Trump: Telford International Centre earns praise as snooker venue

World number two Judd Trump reached the quarter-finals of the Players Championship with a 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin

World snooker number two Judd Trump has heaped praise on the Telford International Centre after its return to the tournament circuit for the first time in just over 13 years.

The Shropshire venue last staged an event in December 2010, when it hosted the UK Championship for a fourth time.

It is currently hosting the Players Championship with the final scheduled for Sunday, 25 February.

"It's a really good venue," Trump told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"It's one of the better venues we play in. I'm not too sure why they took it away but I'm very happy to be back."

World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan was critical of conditions when he won the Masters at the Alexandra Palace in London in January.

But Bristol-based Trump is a fan of the Shropshire venue, which hosted the UK Championship, now based at York, for four years in a row from 2007 to 2010.

Asked what he liked about the venue, Trump said: "The facilities and everything here. There's a lot of space and the tables seem to play pretty well.

"It's always been very popular. This venue could host an even bigger event."

Reigning UK and Masters champion O'Sullivan, who will be in pursuit of snooker's triple crown when he plays in the World Championship at The Crucible at Sheffield in April, gets his week in Telford going in Tuesday's evening session against China's Zhou Yuelong.

Monday's first-round winners were Trump, who beat Chris Wakelin 6-2, and four-times world champion John Higgins, who beat Ding Junhui 6-4.

John Higgins and his wife Denise celebrated his UK Championship win at Telford in December 2010

Scotsman Higgins was the last Telford winner in 2010, when he beat Welshman Mark Williams in the final.

"The memories are a little bit sad," Higgins told BBC Radio Shropshire. "I was going through a tough time in my life. My dad was pretty poorly.

"When I won that event, it was difficult because he couldn't make it down here.

"So I felt a little bit of sadness when I walked in earlier and remembered certain parts. But it's a top-class venue with great facilities."

A World Snooker spokesman said: "We are thrilled to return to Telford this week.

"The reaction from local fans has been fantastic, with many sessions already sold out.

"It is a superb venue and comments from players have been very positive."

Judd Trump and John Higgins were talking to BBC Radio Shropshire's Tom Berrington.