Kyren Wilson Voices Disappointment Over World Grand Prix Organisation Following Early Defeat
Snooker star Kyren Wilson has openly criticised the scheduling of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, describing it as "disheartening" after his swift exit from the tournament. The Masters champion fell to a 5-2 defeat against Xiao Guodong in the opening round, a result that not only ended his campaign but also dashed his hopes of qualifying for the upcoming Players Championship.
Travel Fatigue and Scheduling Woes
Wilson's frustration stems from the tight turnaround between events. He competed in the quarter-finals of the German Masters in Berlin on Friday afternoon, losing to Shaun Murphy, before hastily travelling to Hong Kong for the World Grand Prix, which began just two days later. His match was initially slated for Wednesday but was rearranged to Tuesday afternoon, leaving him with minimal time for acclimatisation and practice.
"I feel bad for this tournament, to be honest," Wilson told the South China Morning Post. "I think the Hong Kong World Grand Prix deserves to be better. Straight from Germany, it's very, very difficult to arrive here. One or two days' practice and sleep, and then try to perform in such a fantastic event."
He emphasised the logistical strain, noting, "I had to leave my family; we travelled separately, so it was just crazy, crazy scheduling." Wilson also pointed out that last season's Grand Prix followed the World Open in Yushan with a shorter trip, which he believed worked more effectively.
Broader Complaints and Organisational Response
Wilson is not alone in his grievances. Judd Trump, who won the German Masters by defeating Murphy 10-4 in Sunday's final, described his own scheduling in Hong Kong as "not ideal." Meanwhile, Mark Selby, despite arriving in Hong Kong only the day before his match and reporting poor sleep, managed a 5-0 victory over Aaron Hill, though he acknowledged the challenges.
World Snooker Tour addressed the issue in a statement, acknowledging the difficulties posed by an expanded global tour. "We have more big tournaments and higher prize money on our global tour than ever before so inevitably that creates challenges for players who go deep in one event and then travel to the next one," the statement read. "We always take this into consideration in terms of scheduling matches and communicating with those players."
Historical Context and Player Backlash
This incident is part of a broader pattern of complaints this season regarding the demanding snooker schedule. Notably, in November, the International Championship in Nanjing concluded on November 9, with the Champion of Champions beginning in Leicester the very next day. Shaun Murphy, who was affected then, labelled the treatment as "despicable" by organisers Matchroom after losing his opening match.
Wilson's early exit in Hong Kong underscores the ongoing tension between player welfare and the commercial demands of the sport, raising questions about how World Snooker Tour balances its ambitious calendar with the physical and mental well-being of its athletes.
