By Elliott West
“It’s every player’s dream to win his first ranking title. It will always stay in my memory. This is my breakthrough. I felt like crying at the end because it means so much to me. It felt as if it was slipping away from me, so to pull through in the end was just a relief. The fans were fantastic and the noise will live with me forever”.
Kyren Wilson, Shanghai Masters, 2015
Introduction
Kyren Wilson is a player who I have long admired and tipped for a top spot. Someone who I first saw in the now defunct PTC series and who oozes class and a prolific break builder. Coached by the brilliant Barry Stark, Wilson hails from Kettering and although only 29, has already won four ranking titles, breaking onto a winning streak with the 2015 Shanghai Masters and went on to attain the 2018 Paul Hunter Classic, 2019 Masters and most recently, the 2020 Championship League. Currently ranked 5th in the world rankings, Kyren has yet to win a Triple Crown title despite reaching the final of the 2020 World Championship where he came up against a inspired Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final, losing 8-18.
Career
Having been a great junior player, winning the Pontins International Open Series – Event 3 in 2009, Kyren Wilson first turned professional in 2010 after finishing fifth in the 2009-2010 International Open Series rankings. However this first attempt would be short-lived after the man dubbed the ‘Warrior’, failed to keep his top spot. Despite this minor setback, Wilson didn’t have to wait long to compete again with the big guns and in 2013 he regained his place, one that he holds to this day.
Kyren’s first major title came in 2015, when he raced to the final. A path that was fraught with danger but one that he sublimely steered through, having won three matches to qualify for the event as a wildcard. Great wins ensued with victories over Joe Perry, Michael Holt, Ding Junhui and Mark Allen before setting up a mouth-watering final between himself and Judd Trump.
This final was Wilson’s breakthrough moment and one that was classically settled in a deciding frame. Kyren showed his utter courage to win in a frame and match that was slipping away from him but like any true champion, pulled victory back from the brink to land to title 10-9. A win that helped his ranking status immensely, finishing the 2015-2016 season in 16th place. He also reached the final of the 2016 Indian Open, losing to Anthony McGill 2-5.
This was quickly followed by fabulous run to the final of the 2018 Masters. Setting a record with this achievement of being the first player, born in the 1990s to appear in the tournament, Kyren faced Mark Allen in the final. A feat that had followed on from his first official 147 at the International Championship.and one that he would nearly top later in the season at the World Championship, making a 140 break after having take a break due to having a nosebleed. Coming back to the Masters final, Wilson almost edged out Allen in a tightly fought contest but was in the end defeated 7-10. He also reached two further finals in that season, losing to Ding Junhui 3-10 at the 2017 World Open and to Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-9 in the English Open.
His next big win, came in Germany in the 2018 Paul Hunter Classic. Reaching the final, Wilson faced the veteran player, Peter Ebdon. Ebdon who was reaching the end of his professional career, managed to win two frames in this 4-2 win. This was Wilson’s first taste of victory in Germany as he was to win the German Masters in 2019 with a barnstormer of a win over David Gilbert, beating the Englishman 9-7. He also reached the final of the final of the Champion of Champions, losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan in a very close final 9-10.
Now set up as a credible player, Kyren went on to reach the finals of the 2020 Welsh Open, Gibraltar Open, World Championship and topped it off by winning the Championship League that year. Although not all silverware achievements, the man from Kettering, still stamped his Mark on the tour as a serious contender for titles.
The Litmus Test
Kyren Wilson is a player that is always a whisker away from another title. He has the all-round game and scores heavily when at the table. Perhaps his own weakness is self-belief. Something not helped by a recent car accident in 2020 that left him with pain in his back and neck. When he is up against a strong opponent like Ronnie O’Sullivan, he is often phased by the odd miss and this leads to his opponent sensing vulnerability. This flaw is one that can only be ironed out over time and the battle scars of defeat will inevitably lead to success. True champions learn from their mistakes and formulate a tighter game that minimises mistakes and builds wins.
Summary
Kyren is a player that will grace the snooker stage for many years to come. To add to his silverware cabinet, he has also won a gold medal at the 2017 World Games and the 2018 Six-red World Championship. A man who has made three 147 breaks and 251 centuries by the age of 29, clearly is a force in snooker to be reckoned with. A sportsman that often walks around the table in Gucci shoes but remains a family man off the table.
