World Snooker Championship 2024: Ronnie O’Sullivan aims for eighth Crucible title

O’Sullivan has won both the Masters and UK Championship a record eight times and another Crucible success would move him clear of Stephen Hendry’s seven world titles.

“With the season Ronnie’s had he will still come in as favourite,” Trump added.

“He has a lot of pressure on him and it would humungous to get the 8-8-8 [World, UK and Masters titles] in the same season. There’s more expectation on him than in the past 10 years.”

Trump beat John Higgins 18-9 in the 2019 final, but lost to O’Sullivan 18-13 in the 2022 showpiece.

However, they cannot meet in this year’s final as Belgium’s reigning champion Luca Brecel is the top seed, meaning Trump and O’Sullivan would play in the semi-finals if they got there.

“I would’ve loved to have played him in another final but in a semi-final he would be more vulnerable,” said Trump, who will only be satisfied with lifting the trophy on 6 May.

“Unless I win it’s a failure. If I go home from a tournament and not won, it’s a failure. It’s a horrible feeling, losing, and anything less than a win is not good enough. Even if I lost to Ronnie in the semi-finals it would feel a failure.”