I think if anything, this match is a 50/50 match. Personally I have no prediction. When this match was announced, it was one that I knew would get talked about by the fanboys of both men, but didn't see it as really having anything to make it stand out from the rest. Just another top-16 vs qualifier match.
However, Trump came into form at the right time. Showing us plenty at The China Open here. There was no easy draw to the final either. Peter Ebdon is a tad past his best perhaps, but you have to play well to beat him. And Shaun Murphy was overwhelming favourite in everybody's eyes, apart from Judds. The 2005 champion looked like a rank amateur compared to Judd. And what with Selby pushing him hard in the final, Judd fully deserved his China Open. All this talk of tanking, and players not being interested in the China Open to save best form for the Worlds proved unfounded. Judd won the ranking event before the Worlds, and won it with some style.
So, this match has captured the imagination of people outside of the fans they have. The papers are reporting on it like it's a significant match. And, for once, they are noticing there are matches that don't involve Ronnie O'Sullivan. That can only be good for snooker.
The talk of it has got tiresome in one way, with even fans of snooker acting like this is the only match happening in the next 17 days. And you are nervous that it won't live up to the hype. But, whether you plan to watch this match, or table 2. And whether you buy into the "biggest first round match ever" or not. You can't complain, that for once, the papers are talking about snooker. And it's not about what Ronnie is doing, or accusing it of being corrupt.