‘This is your time’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan challenges Kyren Wilson to emulate his success in honest text message
Ronnie O’Sullivan has labelled Kyren Wilson the best player in the world and challenged him to emulate his own success in snooker.
Wilson, nicknamed The Warrior, booked his place in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship with a routine 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin on Thursday evening.
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It has been plain sailing on route to the latter stages for the Kettering native who swept aside Stephen Maguire 6-0 in his tournament opener.
O’Sullivan admits he has been impressed by Wilson’s recent performances and believes the 32-year-old has a huge future ahead of him.
“It’s consistency levels basically, he does what looks simple but it’s not simple, but he does it very efficiently,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “That’s why I think he’s the best player in the world.
“If he gets to the semis my money is on him all day because great temperament, great game.
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“He’s had it hard. Worked behind the bar when he fell off the tour. He’s a warrior. I know that’s his nickname, but he’s had it hard. Now he’s world champion, got a great life, great family, he ain’t letting this go.
“I did send him a text saying ‘this is your time, go and get as many majors as you can because there’ll be a time when it don’t happen for you’.
“But he’s got to make the most of it now because he’s got the game in his hands, really.”
Wilson revealed he has not felt at his best during his time at the UK Championships citing anxiety around the big events as the main reason why.
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“I’ll be honest I don’t feel myself this week, I don’t know why. I’ve felt really anxious this week,” he said. “I don’t know what it is. The big Triple Crown events have a little bit more feel to them.
“I’m quite aware that this is my time in the game and I want to make the most of it.
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“I think probably most snooker players have it. It’s just about managing it. We can be playing amazing in practice, come here and it goes tits up. That’s the beauty of the game, you don’t know until frame one how it’s going to go.
“I don’t know if it’s about being world champion. I’ve just got such high hopes and I just want to win.”
In response, O’Sullivan lauded Wilson for his ability to deal with the issue while in the midst of a competitive tournament.
“I feel exactly the same as him,’ O’Sullivan said. “But when you’re out there watching him he don’t look like it. Some people are feeling it and they look like it.
“He’s got something he naturally carries with him, very stoic. It’s a great thing to have in your locker, when you don’t show it.”
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