Judd Trump’s frustrating start to snooker life in 2018 continued as he suffered an early exit in this year’s World Grand Prix.

Judd Trump. Picture by Monique Limbos

The world number 3 fell to a 4-1 defeat to Welshman Michael White adding to what has been an agonising start to the year for the Bristol man.

It all started when he missed out on a great chance of reaching the Masters final after he let slip a huge lead in his semi-final match against Kyren Wilson.

Just days afterwards he then suffered a shock defeat meaning he was unable to qualify for the China Open – the last major ranking event before the World Championship.

Frustration then came his way in Germany when he fell to another ranking semi-final defeat losing 6-1 in the German Masters to eventual winner Mark Williams.

And despite winning the first frame, Trump failed to find his best form as Michael White won four frames on the bounce to reach the last 16 stage.

Meanwhile, Trump was not the only big name to crash to an early exit. Masters winner Mark Allen looked like he would sail to the next stage when he lead Xiao Guodong 3-0.

But the Chinese player produced a stunning comeback winning four frames in a row to knock Allen out.

Elsewhere Neil Robertson showed again that he is back to his best by putting on an impressive display to beat David Gilbert 4-1. The Australian, who won the Scottish Open in December, made breaks of 58, 90, 59 and 102.

Champion of Champions winner Shaun Murphy also progressed through with a 4-1 win over Ricky Walden.