JUDD TRUMP railed against changes to the williamhill.com UK Championship – describing the tournament as a “circus” and claiming it has been devalued.

The 2011 winner at the York Barbican said he felt no pressure or excitement during his 6-2 first round win over Gareth Green and added he now considered the event, traditionally the second biggest in snooker, to be behind both the World Championship and Masters.

Trump joined a growing chorus of top 16 players, which also included Ali Carter and Graeme Dott, in attacking the move to an open format, which has seen all 128 players descend on the Minster city to take part.

Irritated by the main arena set up, which has four tables in play at one time, Trump, pictured right, who took the UK title when he beat Mark Allen 10-8 in a pulsating match, said the excitement of the event had been “ruined”.

“It’s hard because there is no pressure out there,” he said. “There was a lot of excitement coming the UK and it seems to be a bit ruined. All I could think about was trying to go for a 147.

“That’s no disrespect to him (Green). He made a nice couple of breaks from 3-0 but to be playing in the last 128 of the UK, with four tables in the main arena, was just poor.

“When it is down to two tables you feel like you are at a tournament. It just feels like a circus. There is so much going on. You are watching other tables.”

Addressing the flat draw, which means all players start in the first round stage and ended the right of the game’s top 16 to enter at the last 32 stage, Trump added: “No one has ever been protected. Everyone has earned their right to be there. I had to earn my way over five years. When you get there you deserve it.”

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