Kyren Wilson Aims for UK Championship Success Following World Title Win

Kyren Wilson, whose best performance at the UK Championship was reaching the semi-finals in 2021, expressed his desire to “strike while the iron is hot” and build on his recent world title victory with further success at the UK Championship. The event is scheduled from 23 November to 1 December at the York Barbican. Wilson, 32, was eliminated in the first round by qualifier Jamie Clarke 12 months ago and has advanced past the quarter-finals only once in his 11 previous appearances at this initial Triple Crown event of the season. Nevertheless, Wilson is set to commence his campaign at the York Barbican on Monday, having already secured two ranking event titles this term, marking what is arguably his strongest start to a season ever. Far from being burdened by his triumph at the Crucible in May, he appears to be embracing the role of world champion and elevating his game. “I feel like I am coming to the peak of my powers and starting to play some of my best snooker consistently,” Wilson stated. “It is coming out on the match table. It has been frustrating because it has always been there in practice. It is hard to transfer it over to the match table sometimes because it means so much, but I feel like that is coming now and you are seeing the best version of me. So obviously I want to strike while the iron is hot. I love going to tournaments and being introduced as the reigning world champion. It is incredible and gives me goosebumps down my back. There is definitely a feelgood factor and I go into my games with a lot more clout now and confidence around me and you do create a little bit of a fear factor around yourself.” Wilson, who secured the Xi’an Grand Prix in August, achieved his most recent victory at the Northern Ireland Open. Both of these titles were won by defeating world number one Judd Trump. With Trump, Wilson, and Mark Allen having solidified their positions at the top of the world rankings, all three still in their thirties, there have been suggestions that this trio could inherit the legacy of the ‘Class of 92’ and establish snooker’s next significant rivalries. Wilson further commented, “I feel like I am good friends with them [Trump and Allen] but not to the extent where you want to be too pally, pally, because at the end of the day you want to beat them. They are trying to take my living away from me and I am trying to take it from them. It is a good conversation to be part of. Us three in particular have been winners of recent years and recent seasons, are in the top three in the rankings at the moment and are of a similar age. With the likes of Mark Williams floating about and still winning, and I’m sure Ronnie [O’Sullivan] will come good again and John Higgins got to the final of the British Open, the standard nowadays is incredible with what is being achieved. I think for the general public watching it is a great time to be tuning in for snooker.”