What can Jack Lisowski learn from Judd Trump? Northern Ireland Open snooker takeaways – Dave Hendon

While Judd Trump basks in the glow of a truly remarkable achievement, his best friend in the snooker world licks his wounds after yet more disappointment.

His run of victories in ranking event matches stands at 20. He has now won 26 ranking titles, fifth on the all-time list just two behind Steve Davis, and goes to the International Championship in China this weekend in seemingly unstoppable form.

Many felt it could be Jack Lisowski’s week, judging by how well he played to reach the semi-finals. He lost only five frames in five matches at the Waterfront Hall until succumbing to a heavy defeat to Chris Wakelin. For this most likeable of players, the wait for a maiden victory goes on.

Trump and Lisowski share many traits. They are two left-handers who possess enormous natural ability, are capable of audacious shot-making and play a brand of easy on the eye, attractive snooker.

So why has Trump been so successful while Lisowski is still yet to land a title? What can Jack learn from Judd?

Lisowski’s A-game is sensational. At his best, he can beat anyone and indeed make them look average. There’s a beauty to how he strikes the cue ball, an apparently effortless style, which of course has been heavily honed on the practice table.

His B-game is less successful. Against Wakelin, he kept trying to get in with difficult pots but it wasn’t working. He had no way of changing the game to his advantage. He is less minded to take a safety-first approach, reasoning that it doesn’t play to his strengths, but this can make him vulnerable.

Trump was the same several years ago even after winning tournaments. He relied heavily on all-out attack but came to realise that he needed to mix it up. He became more prepared to play an all-round game when necessary and embrace the tactical side, without compromising his most potent powers.

This balance to Trump’s game has helped make all the difference, but he has also proved his mental toughness. This is an area where Lisowski has struggled. Early in his career he appeared completely ill at ease on the main table. He got over this but can still find it difficult to stay focused when things aren’t going to plan.

Lisowski is also perhaps too self-deprecating. Asked by Eurosport’s Rachel Casey why he thought he had so much support, he replied, “People feel sorry for me because I’ve never won anything”.

This can be seen as natural humility or a lack of self-belief. The likes of Trump and Neil Robertson rarely talk themselves down. Arrogance in real life is an unattractive trait but sportspeople need to have a healthy strain of it.

It’s worth pointing out how well Lisowski has actually done. The ranking system is based on prize money, which favours players who secure the big first prizes, so to have become a mainstay of the top 16 without being a tournament winner is a genuine achievement.

Lisowski has appeared in six ranking finals but his last was in early 2021. However, he has won a lot of matches in recent years and last season pocketed £225,000 in prize money, allowing him a nice life. In sport, we define success and failure in narrow terms based on winning or losing but he is making a good living doing the thing he loves. Most of his critics cannot say the same.

For many, though, his lack of titles is frustrating. How can someone that good be trophyless? He is well liked within the snooker world. Fellow players, commentators and fans just want good things to happen for him. They are disappointed when they don’t.

It hasn’t helped that he has met an established champion in each of his finals – Trump three times, Robertson twice and Mark Selby once.

But there have also been some regrettable near misses. He had a golden chance to beat Mark Allen in the deciding frame of their UK Championship semi-final last year. He really should have closed out victory against Tom Ford in the semis of the German Masters a couple of months later.

Meanwhile, Trump, his great pal, has continued to soar. On the practice table there is not much between them but that is not where titles are won.

It’s not for Trump to give advice, but much can be learned from the ruthlessness he has shown recently. He could have lost at various points during the last month but displayed a stubbornness born out of an inner belief that he has it in him to beat anyone.

The brief final session in Belfast was like an exhibition, with Trump compiling three dazzling century breaks to cross the finish line in style. He is the first player in a decade to win three ranking titles in a row. Stephen Hendry once won five on the spin. Reaching such heights may have seemed fanciful a month ago but now it is by no means impossible.

Meanwhile, Lisowski was back at home watching on. He cannot transform his character. He does not need to transform his game. But if he can find some inspiration from Trump’s success and take on board how his friend has found this golden touch, the long wait for a trophy could finally end.

Assuming, that is, Trump lets anyone else win a tournament any time soon.