Huge Ronnie O’Sullivan prediction is no added pressure, says Kyren Wilson
'I don’t know if working together could be a thing, I don’t know.'
Ronnie O’Sullivan has labelled Kyren Wilson as the favourite for this year’s World Championship and tipped him to win at least three more world titles, with the Warrior loving those words rather than feeling the pressure.
Wilson conquered the Crucible for the first time last year and has enjoyed a brilliant season since, winning the Xi’an Grand Prix, Northern Ireland Open and the German Masters.
Runs to the final of the Masters and the semis of the UK Championship have added to a brilliantly consistent campaign as the 33-year-old continues to shine and not be burdened by his position as world champ.
O’Sullivan has been incredibly impressed and made some big predictions for the Warrior during the Masters last month.
‘I think Kyren won that tournament, and he’s now a great player. Not a good player, not a very good player, he’s a great player,’ the Rocket said on Eurosport.
‘If he doesn’t win the world title four times, I’ll be very shocked. He’s a young man. He’s 33, a baby of the game. He has until he’s 45.
‘With the way he hits the ball, the Crucible is made for him, it really is. No one has ever retained it, and this is probably going to put a bit of pressure on him, but for me, he is the favourite to win that.
‘This fella is a great player now, he’s here for a long time and going to wina lot of major tournaments.’
They are big words from the seven-time world champ, but far from feeling pressure, Wilson says it is a boost and part of a string of nice things the Rocket has had to say to him since he won the World Championship.
‘That’s just nice,’ Wilson said of O’Sullivan’s words. ‘He’s been very kind in texting me and giving me some advice, I’m just trying to pick his brain.
‘If he’s ever going to say anything or reach out or drop me the odd message I’ll take it all onboard because somebody that’s won it seven times, you’d be silly not to.’
Wilson said O’Sullivan was even messaging him during the Masters final and he hopes their positive relationship will continue.
‘For me personally he has been really nice, texting me quite a lot. He was texting me during and after the Masters final,’ said Wilson. ‘He was really kind in saying, if you ever want any of my advice, just pick up the phone and let me know.
‘I don’t know if working together could be a thing, I don’t know. I would love to pick his brains for the rest of my career. If I can learn off the very best and take little bits and put it into my game, into my character and into my winning mentality, I will jump at the chance.’
Wilson looks to continue his fine recent form at the Welsh Open, where he takes on Marco Fu in his opener on Tuesday afternoon.
O’Sullivan is still in the draw to take on Jamie Clarke in the same session, but he has regularly pulled out of events shortly before they start, so whether he plays or not is yet to be seen.
