The World Snooker Championship returns to Sheffield with a familiar name carrying renewed expectation. Kyren Wilson arrives at the Crucible Theatre as a reigning world champion and Masters winner, yet he does so after a season that has stretched him in ways silverware never could. Form has flickered, margins have tightened, and the certainty that followed his 2024 triumph has been tested.

Wilson spoke candidly about that period in a recent interview with 247Bet, a prominent UK sports betting platform. 247Bet snooker odds compilers are widely recognised for closely tracking major tournaments. With a significant share of their audience following snooker throughout the season, the platform chose to share Wilson’s reflections directly with those supporters

A Career Built on Resilience and Breakthroughs

Wilson’s story carries weight because it began with setbacks. He turned professional in 2010, fell off the tour, and then fought his way back in 2013. Since that return, he has built a record that commands respect.

His defining breakthrough came at the 2015 Shanghai Masters, where he began the week ranked 54th in the world and ended it by edging Judd Trump 10-9 in a tense final-frame decider. That triumph reshaped how he was viewed within the game, since it revealed a player capable of holding his nerve when the stakes were at their highest.

Titles followed in Berlin, in China, and in Northern Ireland. The 2019 German Masters confirmed his pedigree in longer formats. The 2022 European Masters reasserted his consistency. Victories at the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open in 2024 reinforced his standing among the elite.

Then came the 2024 World Championship. Wilson defeated Jak Jones 18–14 at the Crucible and lifted the sport’s most coveted trophy. He later secured his second Triple Crown title at the 2026 Masters by beating John Higgins 10–6, which strengthened his claim to belong at the summit of the modern game.

The Weight of Expectation After World Glory

Winning the world title reshapes a career. Wilson entered the following campaign as the defending champion, and that status recalibrated every expectation. He acknowledged that reality when he said, “I think that last season I think I was the standout player and then just behind me I think was Judd Trump.”

This season has unfolded differently. Eleven tournaments have produced eleven different winners, which has tightened the field and intensified scrutiny. Wilson recognises that reality, and he framed it bluntly when he said, “You could probably pick 10 to 16 different winners.”

That competitive spread has sharpened his own perspective. Close losses in Belfast and at the Champion of Champions have reinforced how slim the dividing line has become. He described one such defeat as “a sickener”, which captured the tone of a campaign shaped by near misses.

A Broken Cue and a Shaken Rhythm

One of the most significant challenges has come from his equipment. His World Championship-winning cue suffered damage during refurbishment. The impact extended beyond sentiment, as the feel and balance changed.

He explained the difficulty with clarity. “Every piece of wood is very, very different,” he said. That remark underlined how intimate the connection between player and cue becomes over time.

Wilson admitted that he entered events after minimal adaptation. “I’ve gone into events where I’ve picked up a cue the day before,” he said. Results remained competitive, yet he knew the final step required stability.

Relief arrived through an unexpected source. A replica cue, previously made in China, proved the answer. Wilson said, “I’ve got it out this week, and I’m absolutely in love with it.” That rediscovered certainty has restored the rhythm of his attacking style as Sheffield approaches.

Learning From Ronnie and the Class of 92

Wilson’s relationship with Ronnie O’Sullivan reflects evolution rather than rivalry alone. He lost heavily to O’Sullivan in the 2020 World Championship final at the Crucible during restricted attendance, and he still believes that occasion lacked its full theatre.

“I would love to have that experience again with a packed-out Crucible Theatre,” he said. The remark carried ambition and respect in equal measure.

He has also drawn guidance from O’Sullivan in recent seasons. “He’s been fantastic with me lately, giving me a lot of advice,” Wilson explained. That influence has encouraged a shift towards a freer, quicker approach.

The World Snooker Championship Remains the Ultimate Measure

As Sheffield prepares to stage another championship, Wilson speaks about the Crucible with unmistakable reverence. “It means so much to me,” he said, before describing the drive up the M1 and the first sight of the arena banners that “send shivers down your spine.”

He sees the venue as inseparable from the sport’s identity, rich in history and memory. “It’s got so much history, so much nostalgia there,” he explained, while acknowledging the commercial debate around its future. 

In a season marked by unpredictable winners, he also recognises the competitive depth on tour. “You wouldn’t be surprised if 10 to 16 different players could potentially win this event,” he said, a reminder that April remains the ultimate proving ground.

Control, Clarity, and Competitive Depth

Wilson often refers to managing his “stress bucket”, a phrase drawn from his work with hypnotherapist Chris O’Connor. The language signals a player intent on preserving clarity under pressure.

He summarised his competitive philosophy in simple terms. “I just think that if my game’s on, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing.” That conviction reflects a champion’s mindset.

With over 500 career centuries and five maximum breaks, his scoring power remains beyond doubt. His record at the Crucible demonstrates resilience across extended formats.

The broader tour context reinforces opportunity. With no dominant force across this campaign, timing becomes decisive. 

Reclaiming Centre Stage in Sheffield

Wilson arrives at the World Championships as a world champion who has absorbed disruption without yielding conviction. His technical foundations have stabilised, his competitive perspective has deepened, and his ambition remains clearly defined. 

That recalibration has filtered into tipster news and pre-tournament analysis alike, where his name has steadily re-emerged among the leading contenders.

“I feel really good going into it. My practice has been strong. I’ve been putting some hours in, and I feel very settled on the equipment I’m using,” he said recently. 

Wilson has already proven that he thrives when the stakes rise and scrutiny intensifies beneath the Crucible lights. After a season defined by narrow margins and adjustment, he stands poised to defend his crown on snooker’s most demanding stage.