Kyren Wilson: “Being World Champion Has Taken Me to the Next Level” After Dominating Judd Trump in Two Finals

Kyren Wilson believes becoming world champion has taken him to the next level.

The Crucible Dream Came True

The 32-year-old’s boyhood dreams came true when he lifted a maiden Crucible crown in Sheffield earlier this year.

He has hit the ground running this season with two huge ranking final victories against runaway world No.1 Judd Trump.

Two Major Final Wins Over Judd Trump

The Warrior beat the Ace in the Pack at the Xi’an Grand Prix and hammered him 9-3 to deny Trump a famous fifth Alex Higgins trophy at the Northern Ireland Open on Sunday night.

“It’s given me an inner belief,” Wilson, who pocketed an eighth ranking title and the £100,000 top prize, told SportsBoom.com. 

Embracing Reigning World Champion Status

“I really want to make it count. You’re only going to be a first-time world champion once at the end of the day.”

“You have to make the next season count because there’s that air of confidence you have, but I also think people try extra hard to beat you because it’s a good scalp for them.”

“You have to make them earn it and put them under it as much as you can.”

“Snooker is heading in such a good direction, if you can keep rolling with the confidence and the wins, then the rewards are huge.”

“I’ve had some lovely comments since I became world champion, whether that’s been from doing local exhibitions or just people wishing me well, especially those people that have backed me for such a long time and who are pleased for me.”

“When you hear stuff like that it’s really nice because you’re in your own sort of bubble when you’ve won.”

“But for me it’s all the stuff that I’ve heard afterwards which is really inspiring.”

Trump, who is almost three years older than Wilson, has been the dominant force in the sport in recent years and has flown up the list of ranking title winners.

Rivalry with Trump and Future of Snooker

Now only Ronnie O’Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36) and John Higgins (31) have won more than Trump’s 29 — a hell of a feat when you consider he had just eight to his name before his first triumph in Belfast back in 2018.

The rivalry between Trump and Wilson could mark a changing of the guard at the top of the sport and a taste of the future once the famous Class of ’92 — O’Sullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams — end their illustrious careers.

“To be as dominant as Judd has been with the standard on Tour is absolutely phenomenal,” added Wilson.

“I don’t know where he gets the stamina from. He makes me raise my game.”

“I am glad I am up there with him, competing. It’s good for the future of snooker.”