Copyright walesonline
Judd Trump has revealed details about training alongside fellow snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan in Dubai. The English duo have both relocated to the UAE this year. Trump confirmed at the start of 2025 that he was transporting his practice tables to the Persian Gulf in a significant lifestyle shift. This relocation followed the emergence of increasingly profitable tournaments across the Middle East and Asia. O'Sullivan decided to join him during the summer months, after launching his snooker academy in Riyadh towards the end of 2024. He has now established himself there alongside his wife Laila Rouass. The sport's elite players are presently competing at the Northern Irish Open. Trump kicks off his campaign against Welsh competitor Jackson Page, whilst the rarely-seen O'Sullivan has opted to skip this tournament for the third consecutive year. Ahead of this event, Trump was questioned about his interactions with O'Sullivan in Dubai and whether they would be training together, given they utilise the same facilities. Trump said to Metro : "There are two private rooms. I normally go in earlier, I think Ronnie goes in a little bit after when I'm there so I don't really see him very often. "Me and Ronnie are all in the same place, it's a very nice practice facility, very nice to be there. We've had a lot of practice down the years when I was younger, we practised together quite a few times so there's no reason why not. "I'm sure at some point if we're both in there or we both need to really sharpen ourselves up, I think there's no reason why we wouldn't." Trump was then asked whether he spends any time with O'Sullivan socially. He replied: "No, I think I've seen him once in Dubai maybe, if that. "I don't think I've even seen him in the time I've been there. I get up a lot different now from the UK. I used to go in [to practice] maybe half ten, eleven. "In Dubai I'm in half eight, nine, practice for three hours or whatever. I'm out by twelve or one o'clock so I have the rest of the day to myself." O'Sullivan shares Trump's view regarding the standard of these practice facilities. "It's probably one of the best practice facilities I've ever had," said O'Sullivan. "Great, great setup there. And the people there are amazing. I really like it, to be honest, it's just made life a lot more simple, straightforward. "For work, obviously, I'm working a lot that way anyway, so I don't suffer really with jet lag and my flights are cut down in half. So, yeah, all around, it's just makes life so much easier. "The dogs are there, all set up with a house, all the furniture just moved out, so everything's all done. We've sold up virtually everything I had in the UK, so, yeah, nothing left there now for me, really."
