Hendry Tips Trump for China Open Glory After Cue Breakthrough

World Number One Arrives in Taiyuan on the Back of Shanghai Masters Victory

Stephen Hendry has backed Judd Trump to make an immediate impact at the 2026 China Open, tipping the world number one to claim the title at the biggest ranking event of the new season so far. The tournament gets under way on Saturday in Taiyuan, with Trump entering as one of the leading contenders following his triumph at last week's Shanghai Masters invitational.

Trump defeated Kyren Wilson 11-6 in the Shanghai final to claim that title for the second time, compiling seven century breaks across the tournament in a display that hinted at a player rediscovering his very best form. He opens his China Open campaign against Thailand's Noppon Saengkham in the first round.

Hendry Points to Cue Stability as the Key Factor

Seven-time world champion Hendry identified a crucial off-table development as central to his confidence in Trump heading into Taiyuan. Speaking on the Snooker Club podcast, the Scot pointed to Trump finally settling on a cue after a prolonged period of experimentation that blighted much of last season.

"He's a lot happier with the cue he's using," Hendry said. "He said he only started using it six days before the World Championship. But now he's obviously had the whole off-season, and he has really worked hard. He looked comfortable playing all the shots. The long game was there, and the scoring was there."

Hendry was unambiguous about what a settled cue could mean for Trump's rivals across the circuit. "He used four different cues last season, I think. If he's now got a cue that he's very happy with, it could spell trouble for the rest. Half of our discussions about Judd last season were to do with all the messing around with cues. So if he's found the answer to that, then that is going to be ominous for the rest of them."

Contextualising Last Season's Record

Trump's 2024/25 campaign was, by the exceptional standards he has set since climbing to world number one, a relatively modest one. He claimed a single ranking title — the German Masters — though he did reach several other finals throughout the season. For the majority of players on the professional circuit, such a return would represent a productive year; for Trump, it was widely considered a below-par contribution.

The cue difficulties Hendry alluded to are well documented. Rotating between four different cues during a single season is an extraordinary degree of disruption for a professional at this level, where consistency of equipment underpins consistency of performance. The timing of his apparent breakthrough — settling on his current cue only six days before the World Championship — may explain the relatively subdued showing at the Crucible relative to his best form there.

Betting Market and Title Prospects

Bookmakers have installed reigning world champion Zhao Xintong as the narrow favourite for the China Open, with Trump positioned just behind at approximately 4/1 at the time of writing. Given the tournament's status as the flagship ranking event of the early season, both players will be acutely aware of the world ranking points on offer.

Trump's position at the summit of the world rankings is not without pressure. A significant battle to defend his number one ranking is expected to intensify as the season progresses, making a strong showing in Taiyuan particularly important from a strategic standpoint. The China Open has historically rewarded attacking, high-break snooker — a style that, when Trump is at his sharpest, remains the most potent on the tour.

Shanghai Form as a Platform

The manner of Trump's Shanghai Masters victory will encourage those who believe he is rounding into his best form at an opportune moment. Seven centuries across a single tournament is a benchmark figure, and the controlled nature of his 11-6 final victory over Wilson — a player who pushed him hard at last season's World Championship — suggested tactical maturity alongside the scoring brilliance that has long defined his game.

Whether the momentum carries into the ranking arena in Taiyuan remains to be seen, but Hendry's assessment carries weight. The 36-year-old Bristolian has won the China Open previously and will be thoroughly acquainted with both the demands of the event and the standard required to win it. With equipment concerns apparently resolved and a confidence-boosting invitational title already banked, Trump heads into the 2026 China Open in considerably better shape than he managed for much of last season.