Carlisle went snooker loopy last night when world number three Judd Trump arrived in the city to take on a raft of local players.

A crowd of more than 100 descended on Portland Snooker Club, on Currock Road, to watch the two-time UK champion and 2011 World Championship runner-up show off his talents on the green baize.

Trump’s visit to the club came just months after that of six-time world champion Steve Davis and league administrator and organiser Paul Heslop believes there is a real interest in snooker in the city.

Paul was also one of 10 local players to go head-to-head with Trump over a frame.

He said: “It seems to have got everyone excited. We had Jimmy White and Alex Higgins here some years ago and we’ve also had Stephen Lee, but a lot of people are excited to see Judd Trump. We sold 160 tickets which I’m really pleased about.

“It’s great for the club to be able to have these sort of players come along and for some of the local players to have a go at playing a frame against them. It’s a great experience for them.”

The 26-year-old’s first opponent was Paul Whelan, from Annan. He also played Archie Walker, also from Annan and Portland A’s Garry Carruthers who had both won qualifying competitions.

Trump also played one-frame games against Lee Harrison, Mike Griffiths, Martin Goodhead, Andy Simpson, Steven Dobson and John Metcalfe.

Trump, commonly known by his nickname “The Ace in the Pack”, said: “It’s nice to come out to clubs like this and meet the fans. They pay good money to see players like myself play and there’s always a bit of fun when you’re up against them.

“If they have the chance to play someone like myself then it just makes the event a bit more special for them, really. Sometimes they can be quite competitive and it’s never nice to lose, so I’ll always stay competitive as well but it’s all in good humour.”