Exclusive: Kyren Wilson Reflects on Losing World Champion Status but Insists the Tag Will Always Be His

Former world champion Kyren Wilson is desperate to kick off the new snooker season in style.

And the world number two wants to make sure that’s not a shock whitewash loss in the first round of the Shanghai Masters (28 July – 3 August).

Wilson famously won the Shanghai showpiece a decade ago, beating Judd Trump in the final, so has fond memories of claiming his first ranking crown, one which saw him make his mark on the world stage.

But last year the Kettering cueman turned up in Shanghai full of confidence as world champion and was promptly thumped 6-0 by Chinese potter Zhou Yeulong.

“Last year I came to Shanghai and lost 6-0, but then I went on to have a really good season,” said Wilson, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“To be fair, if I lose 6-0 this time and go on to have the same season I’ll take it all day long."

“Shanghai is like their version of the London Masters. It feels like it’s getting a little bit more luxurious each year. It just feels very, very classy."

“I hold very special memories from Shanghai because it will be my ten-year anniversary of winning the tournament."

“When I won it in 2015 it springboarded my career, so I hold Shanghai with very fond memories."

“It’s crazy that’s ten years ago, but I’m looking forward to going back.”

SWEET SUCCESS

Success in Shanghai proved to be the start of what has become a fine career already, with Wilson toasting sweet success two seasons ago when he won a memorable maiden World Championship crown.

And it was after his surprise whitewash in Shanghai last season that Wilson gave himself “the kick up the backside” he needed.

“I won four big ranking finals and got to the Masters final and a UK Championship semi-final [last season], so for me that was an amazing season really,” added Wilson.

“I stepped back after the World Championship and just did a couple of exhibitions, but mainly I’ve been having some good family time. But I’m ready to go now.”

Wilson might have started last season with defeat, but he soon got back on track and defeated arch-rival Judd Trump in the final to win the Xi’An Grand Prix later than month.

And there was more silverware just around the corner as he won the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast two months later.

“Xi’An was literally a few weeks after Shanghai, to be honest losing in Shanghai gave me a bit of a kick up the backside to be honest,” admitted Wilson.

WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

“I think the key now is that I’ve got that weight [of becoming world champion] off my shoulders and nobody can ever take that tag away from me."

“I’ve proved in my own mind that I can win. People have said to me that I can win it, but until you go and do it, well that’s a very different proposition."

“I’m just pleased to where winning the World Championship has taken my game too."

“There’s been cases in the past where it’s been make or break for players winning the World Championship, but I’d like to think it spurred me on last season and gave me confidence."

“I feel like I really thrived with that tag on my back and thrived with the pressure that I was put under as world champion."

“I’m very proud of the way I managed to handle my first year as world champion on the first occasion."

“I definitely feel like I’ve gone to another level."

“Maybe not my game, but certainly with my confidence and belief in what I can achieve.”

The world’s top 16 players are all in action in Shanghai at the Luwan Gymnasium with a prize pot of £825,000 on offer.

World number one Judd Trump beat Shaun Murphy 11-5 in last year’s final and is gunning to defend his crown and pocket the £210,000 first prize.