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Steve Davis offers to 'put up' Judd Trump after snooker star was left 'homeless'

BBC snooker pundit Steve Davis has spoken about JudD

[Judd Trump plays a shot on the snooker table]

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Judd Trump found himself in a difficult situation after the outbreak of war in the Middle East(Image: Getty)

Steve Davis has offered to open his home to Judd Trump after the snooker star was effectively left without a roof over his head due to the crisis in the Middle East. Trump uprooted himself from England to Dubai in January 2024, drawn by the superior weather and training facilities.

However, that move turned into a nightmare in February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory action across the region, including in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The 36 year old subsequently revealed how he had been forced to flee the United Arab Emirates, essentially leaving him without a permanent home.

Speaking at the World Open in March, Trump said: "I had to leave [Dubai] so we went to Bangkok. It's a bit up in the air at the moment. I don't really think I can go back, just in case I get stuck there. Just kind of looking for somewhere else to live. At the moment I'll just base myself in Bangkok.

"There's some good practice there and I've been very well looked after. It's just all a bit play-it-day-by-day. My brother was stuck in Dubai for a little bit so that wasn't good. Luckily he's got out now and hopefully things turn around. I managed to practise in Thailand and dedicate myself like I normally would.

"Just trying to make the best of a bad situation. It's just difficult at the moment because you don't know where I'm going to be living. Every day is different. Just living in a hotel for the last few weeks. It's not nice to be not at home, not knowing what you're going to do. I don't know what I'm going to do after this and stuff like that. Away from the table, just take the positives."

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Trump has since headed back to the UK to take part in the Tour Championship, where he made it to the final only to suffer a heavy 10-3 defeat at the hands of Zhao Xintong. It remains to be seen whether he has managed to return to his Dubai home since hostilities in the Middle East broke out.

Meanwhile, BBC favourite Davis - who resides in Trump's former home city of Bristol - believes the turbulent experience could serve as added fuel at the Crucible. He has even extended an open invitation to stay if needed.

"It might do," the six-time world champion said. "He can come back to Bristol. I can put him up here if he wants! Maybe he'd be happier sort of getting away from it," he told the Express.

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Steve Davis has extended the olive branch to Judd Trump(Image: Getty)

Yet when it comes to predicting whether Trump can clinch the world title, the 68-year-old is refusing to commit. "There are a lot of very good players at the top and obviously the top 16 is more volatile than it's ever been before and players hit form and then drop out a little bit," he continued.

"It's been a very difficult season to find players that are totally in form. Everybody's had their moments. So therefore, the door is open. Ronnie O'Sullivan started to try and time to perfection, to come and win his eighth.

"Any player that's won an event this year has done very well, but so many players are capable of winning. It's not a failure if you lose because you are just up against somebody good all the time."

Zhao will be hoping to break the Crucible curse when he launches his title defence. No first-time champion has ever successfully retained the crown the following year.

[Zhao Xintong holding world championship trophy]

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Zhao Xintong is the defending champion at the Crucible(Image: Getty)

Davis doesn't discount the Chinese star from achieving that feat, though he remains sceptical. He went on: "He's well capable. He's shown some strong form at the end of this season.

"But I just think it's odds against anybody doing it. It may never happen, because there's more players around than ever before who are capable. So the chances are getting slimmer.

"If Zhao was to do it, that would be an incredible achievement. He's starting to produce some great stuff as well. That would be amazing if he could win it."

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