Kyren Wilson doesn’t want to settle on one as he begins the defence of his World Snooker Championship title on Saturday in Sheffield.
The 2025 edition of the sport’s blue-riband tournament will commence with Wilson’s opening-round fixture against Lei Peifan at the Crucible Theatre.
A year ago, the 33 year-old won his maiden world crown with an 18-14 triumph over Jak Jones in the final, and he has been one of the most in-form competitors on the main tour since.
The Warrior has established himself as the standout world number two behind Judd Trump on the back of a career-best season during which he has won four ranking titles.
“It’s incredible. It’s been such a quick turnaround,” Kyren Wilson told Rob Walker for the World Snooker Tour on the eve of the event.
“Tour life, and everyday life, has been so hectic – so busy – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I absolutely loved every single minute of it, and I’m delighted to be back here a year on.
“It’s about consistency. I’ve been working very hard with Chris O’Connor, the solution hypnotherapist, and we’ve been very consistent in our sessions.
“When you’ve found a winning recipe, it’s about repeating that time and time again. Winning becomes a habit.
“It’s certainly a fun habit, because there are plenty of losses in this game. It’s been an incredible journey, and long may it continue.
“I’m proud of the way I’ve managed to handle it all, because without mentioning names, you’ve seen players that have struggled the year after winning the world title for the first time.
“You’ve seen others thrive from it. But there was no way I was going to let it burden me – it has given me so much confidence.
“Having the likes of yourself introducing me as the current world champion is an absolute spine-tingling moment, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
“I’ve done so many fun things off of the table. Taking the world title to Stamford Bridge, being in the Aston Martin paddocks at Silverstone.
“Taking the trophy to Great Ormond Street Hospital – real humbling moments. It feels like the trophy gives you superpowers, it’s like it turns you into a superhero.
“When you lift that up, it’s just so full of history. It’s so special, and to have my name on it, I can finally die happy.
“Hopefully I don’t die too soon, but I can finally die happy.”
Much has been written about the possibility of Wilson potentially breaking the Crucible Curse whereby no first-time world champion has ever returned to successfully defend the crown the following year.
There are some who believe that the Kettering cueist could be the player to break the curse, given his impressive form right throughout this term.
“I think it’s great, because it’s another story for people to follow,” said Kyren Wilson – the winner of this season’s Xi’an Grand Prix, Northern Ireland Open, German Masters, and Players Championship.
“For the media point of view, I think it’s fantastic. But for me, it’s just another chance to become world champion again. I want to win multiple world titles.”
“This is a year that I’ve got another shot at it. It just so happens that it’s the year after I’ve won it for the first time.
“So it’s just statistics, isn’t it? People have come back and won it for the second year – okay, it might not have been [after] the first time they won it.
“But it certainly has been done, so I’ve just got to give it my all, and I obviously know what it takes to win here now.”
Kyren Wilson plays his last-32 match against Lei Peifan on Saturday at 10am and 7pm UTC+1.
Featured photo credit: WST
Have you published your top 10 players never to win the world title list?
Not yet. I’m saving it for the final weekend this year, it didn’t do that well on the opening weekend last year.
A run to the final for a player that’s never won it could still influence the order!