After a summer of celebrating, holidays and VIP appearances, Kyren Wilson found himself not knowing where to look heading into the 2024/25 season.
The new world champion naturally wanted to soak up his £500,000 Crucible triumph in May with the people that matter most in his life, his loving family who, in his words, have “suffered” as he traverses the world with his cue. He also got to parade the trophy around the pitch at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, was invited to the British F1 Grand Prix and made a heart-warming trip to visit sick children at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
As a world champion, there were numerous other media and PR commitments. After all that, there was the not-so-small matter of returning to the table and he briefly found himself wondering how he would get himself up for the new season.
“I had quite a lot of time off after winning the World Championship,” he says in an exclusive interview for Reach’s UK Championship magazine. “I felt quite drained and went on a number of holidays. My family have to suffer with me being away all year round in different areas of the world.
“I’m the sort of person who needs structure in their life. I’m quite an obsessive person so if I get a taste for something, I can go a bit crazy. I think I got a taste for the beer while I was celebrating!
“It’s hard to get yourself up after reaching the pinnacle. I didn’t really know how to handle that, I didn’t really know where to look.
“So it was time to rein it in and get back to practice, because this game won’t forgive you if you don’t treat it right. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. I started putting the hard work in for the Xi’an Grand Prix [in August] and knuckled down.”
Wilson won that tournament, beating Judd Trump 10-8 in the final, to begin his year as world champion in perfect fashion. He went on to win Northern Irish Open, thrashing Trump in the final.
“Winning that [the Xi’an Grand Prix] gave me a feel-good factor straight away,” adds Wilson, who begins his UK Championship campaign against Stephen Maguire on Monday. “I felt like that took a lot of pressure off my shoulders.
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“Phil Yates [snooker commentator] said to me in Saudi Arabia that I was the first world champion in four years to win a ranking event the following season. That was a pleasing stat because it shows you how much pressure the world champion is put under.
“I’ve dreamed of having this title on my name since I was six years old. Being announced as the reigning world champion is a spine-tingling moment.”
The father of two young boys found his trip Great Ormond Street particularly special. Wilson recalls with pride: “That was the most memorable moment. The joy I saw it give to the poorly children was unbelievable. I feel like that trophy gives you superpowers!”
Wilson is conscious of his role as an ambassador of the sport, even if he isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Earlier this season, he let rip at the authorities for being given the “graveyard shift” at the English Open and being “demoted” from the top table at the Saudi Arabia Masters.
However, he remains mindful of his conduct away from the table. He says: “You’ve got to watch what you’re doing, even in day to day life. When you’re in the supermarket and your children are being naughty, you’ve got to be careful what you’re doing. All eyes are on you.”
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Speaking of his children, Wilson would be thrilled if one or both went into the sport. He adds: “It’s the sport I love, it’s given me a fantastic life.
“Hopefully my children follow in my footsteps. They’re certainly interested, I just have to make sure I give them the best example and be a good role model.
“My youngest, Bailey, he’s always in a waistcoat and dickie bow while practising, so I’ve got to make sure I don’t throw any temper tantrums because he’ll be straight onto it.
“I’d certainly recommend a career in snooker to them because your destiny is in your own hands. You can go to a qualifying school and turn professional. It’s not quite as easy as that as it takes hours and hours of dedication and sacrifice.
“And I feel like the game is expanding, there’s more prize money on offer and more new tournaments on the horizon. You’ve got to be a bit selfish but, yeah, I would definitely encourage it.”
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