Punter wins £10,000 on bet placed on snooker champ Judd Trump TWENTY years ago
Trump lifted the crown for the first time last night in a superb 18-9 win over John Higgins at the Crucible – and among those celebrating the victory was racing journalist Neil Morrice.
For Mr Morrice, 62, placed a bet on Trump to win the snooker showpiece in 1998 after seeing the then-eight-year-old play a frame against his son.
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Hide AdAt the time the young Bristolian needed to stand on a box to reach the table.
Morrice told the Press Association he felt he had "seen something" when he first witnessed Trump in action against his 12-year-old son Richard.
"Richard was quite a decent club player and I used to take him to all the clubs on the circuit. And one day - I remember it well, it was aSunday - we went down to Bristol and on the edge of Bristol there was a club called the Keynsham Club and my son was looking to find somebody to give him a frame.
"This little boy came up and said to Richard: 'Do you fancy a frame?' So Richard looked at him and said 'okay'. And the little boy said: 'I'll give you 20 start.'
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Hide Ad"[He] used the cue more like a spear than a cue because he was so small, and he whacked down a 30 break. And I think with about one more visit to the table it was game over."
Morrice, also from Bristol, said everyone in the city "had high hopes" for Judd.
"Even at the age of eight they could tell he was something very special," he claimed.
Following the encounter, Morrice called his friend, who worked for bookmakers Coral, and was offered a £10 "fantasy bet" at 1,000-1 forTrump to become champion of the world by the age of 30.
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Hide AdThe eventual victory was all the sweeter as this year's tournament was the last opportunity for Trump, 29, to ensure the bet came to fruition.
"It's been a rollercoaster ride... in 2011 he made the final against, of all people, John Higgins, looked as if he was going to win it and thenof course lost."
Morrice said he wasn't nervous while watching the final, but admitted: "I went to bed a happy man."
"He was so cool and so relaxed, playing sensational snooker, both attacking and defending, so it really was no surprise at all when hewent out there tonight and polished it off in the first two frames."
On what he's planning to do with his winnings, Morrice said: "I think I might give my wife a nice holiday, that would be my paramount thought atthis time."