Ronnie O’Sullivan has picked up on one part of Kyren Wilson’s game (Image: Getty)
Snooker legend could have a future as a body language analyst after picking up on ‘s attitude towards facing . ‘The Warrior’ clinched a convincing 6-3 win over Trump on Saturday to reach the final and appeared to enjoy himself along the way.
Wilson, 33, will face off against Shaun Murphy in Sunday’s finale after in his own semi, also by a 6-3 scoreline. Eight years have passed since Wilson lost 10-7 to Allen in his only other Masters final appearance, hoping to make up for that slip come Sunday.
And despite the pressure on his shoulders at Alexandra Palace, he appeared to be enjoying himself as he sealed a special victory over Trump. Or at least that was the perception made by O’Sullivan, who withdrew from the Masters on the eve of the tournament for medical reasons.
“Yeah, I don’t blag it,” Wilson told presenter Radzi Chinyanganya when asked if he agrees with O’Sullivan’s observation that he enjoys playing Trump. “I don’t just say it because you’ve got to make your opponent feel edgy. I genuinely enjoy it.
“For me… you have your opponents you feel like you’ve got to get past to win these big events. The likes of you [gestures to O’Sullivan] and John [Higgins], you and [Stephen] Hendry, those sorts of players. For me, he is one of those players. You know, if I’m gonna be successful in this game, I have to get past that man. So I’ve kind of adapted my mind to enjoy it.”
It takes a particularly positive kind of person to enjoy facing the No.1 player in the world right now. Most would likely seek to ensure they avoid a player of Trump’s quality in the hunt for accolades, but Wilson appears to treat it as a rite of passage if he’s to win the major events.
World champion Wilson beat Judd Trump to reach his second Masters final (Image: Getty)
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And the rivalry holds a special place in his heart, too, considering it was one triumph over Trump in particular that cemented his place as one of the sport’s elite. The reigning world champion recounted one win over ‘The Ace in the Pack’ that catapulted him to fame.
“I think it helped winning early in my career in Shanghai in 2015,” added Wilson, referencing his 10-9 victory over Trump to win his first ranking title almost a decade ago. “So much pressure. I had £400 in my bank account in that final [laughs].
“[Wilson’s wife] Sophie went to Tenerife. We saved up €400, and then she didn’t put nappies in the suitcase with Ryanair to save money, and then she lost it. And then I won that tournament, I beat him in that final, and that was a massive turning point in my life. And that gave me a lot of confidence playing him going forward.”