Trump gets well enough to defeat Pang at the UK Championship.

With a commanding 6-1 victory over Pang Junxu, Judd Trump demonstrated how his unwavering drive for achievement

enabled him to get off his sick bed and advance to the UK Championship’s second round in York.

The 34-year-old is the most recent elite player to appear at the competition with what appears to be flu-related symptoms.

On the first day of play, Ding Junhui contemplated withdrawing but ultimately defeated the reigning champion, Mark Allen.

But as he aims for a title that has eluded him since a single victory in 2011, Trump—who last month became just the fifth

player in history to win three consecutive ranking tournaments—said that withdrawing was not an option.

“I didn’t feel great, but I’m going to turn up and give it my best,” declared Trump, who fears that after seeing rival Ronnie

O’Sullivan’s documentary debut in London last week, he may have contracted the virus.

Withdrawing was not an option, however, according to Trump, who last month became just the fifth player in history to win

three straight ranking tournaments, as he pursues a title that has eluded him since a single victory in 2011.

“I didn’t feel great, but I’m going to turn up and give it my best,” Trump said. He may have caught the virus after watching

rival Ronnie O’Sullivan’s documentary debut last week in London.

Two centuries later, it appeared that Trump was having little trouble with the world’s 34th-ranked player, who had given

O’Sullivan something to think about in the World Championship’s opening round earlier this year.

Furthermore, Trump’s tenacity contrasts sharply with that of the current Crucible champion, Luca Brecel, who acknowledged

he was having to come up with creative ways to stay motivated during the campaign.

Trump said, “I just love winning.” “What motivates me is the intense dislike I have for the feeling of failing. I don’t want to

reflect on my career at the end and realize that I neglected to practice or missed events.

“We have enough time off during the off-season, so I figure I might as well work hard, give it everything I’ve got, and win as

many tournaments as I can during the actual season.

“I had a two- or three-year run of winning almost everything, followed by a period in which I was still decent but not as good.

“It was a terrible feeling to return home each time the trophy was missing. I find that nothing compares to winning, and there’s

no greater feeling than returning home victorious.”

Barry Hawkins, a previous semifinalist, also guaranteed his spot in the round of 16 after defeating qualifier Ben Woollaston 3-1.