‘I came out of Shanghai with £400 to my name' – Kyren Wilson recalls incredible rise after £210k tournament win

The Sun

2 days ago

KYREN WILSON bagged his first big tournament win of the new season following his Crucible misery – in the city where his career first properly began.
The Warrior, 33, defied comeback king Ali Carter in the Shanghai Masters final with a 11-9 success, which secured him £210,000.
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The former world snooker champion – who eliminated Ronnie O'Sullivan and Zhao Xintong during the week in China – scored breaks of 129, 96, 80, 78, 105, 122 and 86 against the Captain.
It was in this location 10 years ago, when it was a ranking event, where Wilson announced himself to the sport by becoming the Master of Shanghai for the first time.
Wilson fistpunched when the win was confirmed, which happened three months after he departed early from the World Championship, another victim of the Crucible Curse.
The world No.2 told SunSport: 'Ten years ago, I didn't have a pot to p*** in.
"I think I came out to Shanghai with about £400 to my name. I just managed to win that and my career took off.
"I was very successful after that, very consistent. My life totally changed after that. I proved I was not a one-hit wonder.
'Ten years on and to win it now, when it's a prestigious invitational event, with the best 16 players and very good Chinese talent, is a massive feather in the cap.
'The biggest statement is that I went out in the first round of the World Championship, I've gone away, had time off and come back as hungry as I was last season.
'Very determined to get winning again. It was a massive kick in the teeth to go out in the first round of the Worlds.
'I'd like to say I always stay positive. But I didn't want it to go to a decider as Ali's strikerate this week has been phenomenal.
'We all know how gritty and determined he is. I was very conscious I had to take out that last clearance – and so happy I did that.
"You could see the emotions.'