Kyren Wilson became the first player into the final of the World Snooker Championship after a comfortable 17-11 win over David Gilbert. Wilson has been there before and will look to draw on the experience of his loss to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2020. Stream top snooker action, including the 2024 World Championship, live and on-demand on Eurosport and discovery+
Kyren Wilson will look to draw on the experience of his loss to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2020 when he steps out for the World Championship final on Sunday.
Wilson booked his place in the Crucible showpiece following an ultimately comfortable 17-11 win over David Gilbert.
The Kettering potter returns to the final four years on from his defeat to O’Sullivan.
O’Sulllivan was a handy 18-8 winner, but the experience of losing in the final of the sport’s biggest event is what Wilson will look to learn from.
Unlike four years ago, Wilson will be fresh on Sunday against either Stuart Bingham or Jak Jones as he cruised through.
In 2020, Wilson won an epic semi-final 17-16 against Anthony McGill and he admitted he was shot mentally and physically.
“I woke up that morning, obviously with what happened with Anthony in that semi-final, it made me feel edgy,” Wilson said in the Eurosport studio. “That is the difference. I will go in this time with a nice comfortable win; I have made a good break to finish the match.
“I woke up that morning [in 2020] and I was just shattered. I felt that was not normal, but it is normal as this is such a long tournament and I hope it holds me in good stead.”
Reflecting on his win over Gilbert, Wilson said: “I am chuffed. It was nice to take it out in one hit. I hit a sweet red, screwed back on the blue and found my timing again.”
Wilson has admitted he changed his game after not getting the results as an out-and-out attacking player.
“I am a natural player, I have been playing since I was six years old,” Wilson said. “If you see me in an exhibition I am very quick.
”I modelled my game off Ronnie, back then I was long and fluent through the ball. For me it did not quite work, and I had to go back and remodel.”
– – –
Stream top snooker action, including the 2024 World Championship, live and on-demand on Eurosport and discovery+
