Judd Trump vs Gary Wilson Preview & Prediction | 2026 World Snooker Championship | First Round

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World number one Judd Trump begins his Crucible campaign on Tuesday against qualifier and former semi-finalist Gary Wilson.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC & TNT Sports / USA – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & HBO Max / USA – Cannot be streamed

Tickets: Visit here for the latest ticket information

Judd Trump vs Gary Wilson prediction

By his own considerable standards, Judd Trump has had one of his more modest seasons, but it was still a campaign that saw him win the German Masters and reach a further three finals, including at the prestigious UK Championship.

The Bristolian, who remains the world number one, has only once lifted the World Championship trophy - an underwhelming return given his general tour-dominance over the years.

Gary Wilson returns to the Crucible after a one-year absence hoping to rediscover the form that took him to the semi-finals back in 2019.

The 40-year-old swept aside Allan Taylor 10-1 in the third round of qualifying before a nail-biting 10-9 victory over Xu Si in the deciding round.

Despite sometimes underperforming in the latter stages in Sheffield, Trump has made at least the quarters in seven of his last eight World Championship participations, and it would be a major surprise if he didn't see off Wilson here.

Should Trump find anything close to his top gear, the prolific potter can be expected to make a couple of centuries here, while Wilson is a a proficient break-builder in his own right. With that in mind, over 3.5 centuries is a worth a look.

Judd Trump vs Gary Wilson tip: Over 3.5 centuries