Judd Trump launches into BBC Masters snooker commentary as Ronnie O'Sullivan targets eighth title

Former world champion Judd Trump has launched a scathing attack on BBC snooker commentators and warned many need to 'do their homework'. Trump kicks off his Masters campaign on Wednesday as he takes on Ryan Day in the first round at Alexandra Palace.

The Masters is again shown live on the BBC, with the broadcaster entitled to the other main snooker events, the World Championship and the UK Championship.

Trump believes that a number of commentators do not keep abreast of events outside of the main competitions and are therefore unable to offer in-depth insight to viewers of the channel.

"It's just disappointing when some people at BBC events don't do their homework, they don't know what's going on," the former world champion told Snooker Scene magazine.

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"You don't get that in any other sport. Everybody in golf, tennis, people know everything that's been going on all year. I just think people need to do more effort, work on it, be a little less selfish and do a little more homework to try to build the game."

Trump has reserved praise for snooker legend John Virgo, who will be replaced at the end of this season after more than 30 years at the BBC. "He gets it all, his voice, it's amazing, it can't be taught, you either have it or you don't and there's something special about it," Trump added.

Virgo confirmed last year that he and fellow snooker great Dennis Taylor would leave the BBC commentary team after the World Championship later this year. The decision to replace the mainstays with younger voices has been criticized by snooker fans.

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"I understand that you are past a certain age and want to try something different", "I wouldn't have been like this 30 years ago, I would have fought my corner. But I realized - and it took me a long time to realize - that you shouldn't get caught up in something you have no control over. I can't have bad feelings."

Ronnie O'Sullivan remains the favorite for this year's Masters, although he faces a tricky quarter-final test against Mark Williams. Shaun Murphy and Barry Hawkins have also already secured their place in the last eight.

The Rocket will be aiming for their eighth title and he insisted he was still enjoying the moment. "It's not easy to play under pressure and I felt that Luca felt a bit uncomfortable and I tried to make the most of it and punish every mistake he made" , O'Sullivan told BBC Sport after dismissing Luca Brecel in the opener. -round.

“At 47 you have a lot of experience and you have to resort to a lot of things. It's an amazing feeling with 2,000 people here expecting you to play well. I could say I don't care, but actually there's a really good competitor out there. I'm never going to lose that, so players can keep expecting me to come back for more. I not going anywhere yet."