World Champion Kyren Wilson believes he’s got the UK Championship title in the bag as the snooker returns to York this weekend.
In a bid for victory, Wilson feels he’s approaching “the peak of his powers”.
The Victorian Plumbing UK Championship Snooker is running from 23 November 23 to 1 December at the York Barbican, where it was first staged in 2001.
Fans attending the anticipated event can expect to see the sport’s all-time greats, with the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Judd Trump having lifted the trophy in York in recent years.
Last year Wilson was beaten in the first round, losing 6-5 to Jamie Clarke after holding a 5-1 lead.
Twelve months on, the 32-year-old returns to the Barbican as not only the reigning world champion, but also having won the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open this season, both times beating world number one Judd Trump in the final.
“I feel like I am coming to the peak of my powers and starting to play some of my best snooker consistently,” Wilson said.
“It has always been there in practice. Like many other players, it is hard to transfer it over to the match table sometimes because it means so much and I feel like that is coming out now and you are seeing the best version of me.
“Obviously I want to strike while the iron is hot.
“I love going to tournaments and being introduced as the reigning world champion. It is incredible and gives me goosebumps down my back.
“There is definitely a feel good factor and I go into my games with a lot more clout now and confidence around me and you do create a little bit of a fear factor around yourself.” He added.
While Trump, Wilson and Mark Allen have established themselves at the top of the world rankings, Mark Williams’ victory in the Champion of Champions on Sunday, at the age of 49, proved that the famed ‘Class of 92’ remain capable of winning at the highest level.
Wilson said, “with the likes of Mark Williams floating about and still winning, and I’m sure Ronnie (O’Sullivan) will come good again and John Higgins got to the final of the British Open, the standard nowadays is incredible.
“I think for the general public watching it is a great time to be tuning in for snooker.
“I feel like I am good friends with all of them but not to the extent where you want to be too pally pally, because at the end of the day, you want to beat them.
“They are trying to take my living away from me and I am trying to take it from them. It is a good conversation to be part of.” Wilson added.
Enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere for yourself at the York Barbican this weekend, for a day at the UK Championship Snooker Tour.
The information is as follows:
- Where: York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Dates: Sat 23 Nov – Sun 1 Dec
- Time: 1pm & 7pm
For more information and tickets, click here.