Snooker Greats Applaud Wilson's Transformation
Snooker stars Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have heaped significant praise on world champion Kyren Wilson, who believes his recent change in playing style has been key to winning their approval. Wilson, who claimed his first World Championship title last year, enjoyed a stellar 2024/25 season, securing four ranking titles and reaching the Masters final.
Although his campaign concluded with a surprising first-round defeat to Lei Peifan at the Crucible, it was nonetheless a brilliant period for the player known as 'The Warrior'. He started the current season emphatically by winning the Shanghai Masters, swiftly putting the disappointment of Sheffield behind him.
High Praise from the Rocket
This sustained success over the last 18 months has captured the attention of Ronnie O'Sullivan, a player not known for freely praising his rivals. When asked by TNT Sports to name his favourite current player, O'Sullivan did not hesitate. ‘Kyren Wilson,’ was his immediate reply.
While the world number two insists he doesn't play snooker to earn compliments from peers, he admits the recognition from the seven-time world champion is gratifying. ‘Lovely. Yeah, he’s been very complimentary of me over the past probably two years, to be honest,’ Wilson told Metro via Dream Vegas.
He attributes this positive attention to a conscious evolution in his game. ‘I think I’ve changed and I’ve enhanced my style of play. I’ve gone more towards my natural style of trying to play a bit quicker and more aggressively.’ This shift in approach has yielded major results, including victories over the world's best players. ‘I played the world number one [Judd Trump] in three finals last year,’ he noted, suggesting that top players like O'Sullivan recognise and respect such challenging pathways to success.
Hendry's Honest Admiration
Stephen Hendry, the other seven-time world champion, has also offered kind words, albeit with a candid admission. Speaking on ITV during the Champion of Champions, Hendry revealed his previous opinion had changed. ‘I have to be honest, I didn’t enjoy watching Kyren Wilson play a few years ago, but since he’s won the world title he’s turned into a different player,’ Hendry said. ‘He’s sped up his game, he’s so aggressive, he doesn’t hesitate to go for the big shots and now he’s great to watch.’
Wilson is aware of these comments and appreciates them. He believes his championship success has granted him the freedom to play with more aggression, liberating him from the fear of losing that once defined his game. ‘At the end of the day, I was a young lad trying to provide for his family, and you’re almost petrified of losing... whereas now I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to prove.’
Looking Ahead to the UK Championship
Despite a strong start by winning the Shanghai Masters, Wilson's results have since tapered off. He cites his wife's illness and a change of cue as contributing factors. However, he remains optimistic, pointing out that many of his recent losses have been narrow defeats, such as his quarter-final match against Jack Lisowski in Belfast and a black-ball loss to Zhao Xintong.
Drawing parallels to the season he won the World Championship, which was also quiet until the very end, Wilson and his family are urging patience. ‘They’re saying you’ve got to keep going through. The tide might turn at the Worlds again,’ he shared.
His immediate focus is on the UK Championship, a title he is yet to win. Wilson begins his campaign on Tuesday against Elliot Slessor, hoping to convert his current form and the confidence from snooker's icons into another major trophy.
