Judd Trump admits he’s relishing the sound of silence and will struggle to adapt when fans return to snooker halls for January’s Masters at the Alexandra Palace.

The world No.1 kept his hopes of a second UK Championship alive after motoring past Liang Wenbo 6-1 in the third round in Milton Keynes.

The tournament is being held at the behind closed doors Marshall Arena but the Masters looks set to host up to 1,000 fans per session in line with new Government guidance.

Trump has taken to the coronavirus-enforced setup like a duck to water – he won the English and Northern Ireland Opens – and admits he’s dreading the return of ringing mobile phones, or poorly-timed coughing, when he takes to the Ally Pally baize.

“I don’t notice now, to be honest,” said the 31-year-old. “I still get the butterflies and the nerves for some of the games, especially the big ones, so it’s all still there.

“I’m still out there and want to play my best. It still feels like the UK Championship to me with everyone around you introducing you, and the commentary around the venue.

“Everything still feels the same – it’s just maybe that introduction when you hear the crowd and on a special break.

“Other than that, I’m just trying to get on with the game, and hopefully I can take that into when the crowds do come back and ignore everything around me.

“Noise-wise, especially with the phones going off, not having that for six months, there are no excuses or anything like that.

“There’s no one moving or coughing on your shot. I think in that aspect it could be tough for a few of the players, and maybe even myself might get a little but frustrated if it happens at a crucial time after being so used to it and not having it for so long.

“If a phone goes off at an important time in a deciding frame, it’s really going to annoy you after not having it for so long. It could take players a little while to get back used to it.

“Hopefully, everyone nowadays has had six months to think about turning their phone off!”

Trump rolled in three fluent half-century breaks against world No.30 Wenbo to reach the last 16 of the UK Championship for just the second time since 2014.

And he nearly struck another magical 147 break in the final frame - he also made one in November's Northern Ireland Open - as he missed the 12th black while poised on a brilliant 89.

The 19-time ranking event winner won the UK Championship in 2011 but has struggled for consistency since, reaching the final three years later but slumping to a string of premature exits in recent years.

He’s got a golden shot at a 20th ranking event title this year, however, as he prepares to do battle with either three-time world champion Mark Williams or Ricky Walden in the fourth round.

Trump admits he’ll have to improve if he’s to scoop a fourth Triple Crown title but knows he’s long overdue a run at the maiden major of the season.

“If you keep playing every single year, sooner or later you’re going to have a good run,” he added.

“Hopefully this is my year. Today I played badly and got through, which is always a good thing to be battling away and still have that chance to improve.

“If I played like that against one of the top players, I could be on the way home now, so I just need to go back, take it easy, have a little practice and then come back hungry again.”

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