Snooker world No. 1 Judd Trump found himself at the center of an unusual incident during the 2024 Wuhan Open when he mistakenly began playing with another player’s cue. The mix-up occurred during Trump’s last-16 match against John Higgins in China, as the players returned from a mid-session interval with Trump leading 3-1. Upon stepping up to break, Trump suddenly realized something was wrong and told the referee, “This isn’t my cue.”
Trump’s cue had been confused with fellow player Ben Woollaston’s after they both practiced before the match. The game was paused while Trump waited for his correct cue to be retrieved. Higgins, rather than insisting the match proceed, found humor in the situation and graciously waited for the issue to be resolved.
Despite the hiccup, Trump quickly regained focus. He extended his lead with a half-century break to 4-1. Although Higgins responded with a brilliant 126 clearance, Trump sealed the match 5-2, advancing to the quarter-finals. Reflecting on the incident, Trump expressed surprise, noting that such a mix-up had never happened to him before, but praised Higgins for his patience.
Trump’s composure after the bizarre moment demonstrated his professionalism, and he remains a strong contender as the tournament progresses.
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