Judd Trump issues terse response to Ronnie O'Sullivan's women's prize money plea - The Mirror

Ronnie O'Sullivan had suggested a percentage of prize money from the main tour should be handed over to boost the power of the women's game

Judd Trump has hit back at World No.1 Ronnie O'Sullivan's suggestion to give more prize money to women's snooker.

Women's events are currently poorly rewarded in comparison to the men's game and O'Sullivan suggested five percent of prize money from the main tour could be given to his female counterparts.

The biggest ever purse for the women's tour is £6,000 - around one percent of what the Rocket pocketed for winning his latest world title earlier this year.

He had said: “It's so wrong that World Snooker haven't made it better for the girls. Why can't they just take five percent off the prize money and give the ladies a good opportunity to play in good conditions?

"At least make it a professional job where they don't have to go out and do other things to make ends meet."

But Trump has issued a response, with a large chunk male tour earning considerably less than O'Sullivan and struggling financially themselves.

“I am sure Ronnie has got enough money to give away that five per cent in total. It is a lot easier to say stuff and get a debate going. But he is more than welcome to do it himself," he told the Sportsman.

“If he has that strong an opinion about it, why doesn’t he go ahead and do it – and put his money where his mouth is? And then the rest can choose if they want to follow his example or not. He can start the fund or kitty.

“Why doesn’t he hand over his whole prize money for a whole season, and give that to the women’s tour? We also already give 2.5 per cent of the prize money away to World Snooker – I’d almost rather they just gave that to the women’s game. If you added five per cent to the 2.5 per cent that is 7.5 per cent, and then tax on it all you are struggling to make a profit.”

World No.2 Trump was beaten by O'Sullivan at the Crucible in May but will usurp him in the rankings if he wins this week's UK Open.

O'Sullivan was stunned as he was knocked out in the first round by Alexander Ursenbacher earlier this week.

Trump is now the favourite for the competition and will continue his quest for glory on Thursday when he takes on Xu Si for a place in the last 16 of the competition.