Kyren Wilson has landed the biggest prize in snooker and now wants to reach the top of the rankings, setting the world number one spot as his next big target.
The 32-year-old beat Jak Jones in the Crucible final on Monday night to get his hands on the iconic trophy, the £500,000 top prize and climb to number three in the world rankings.
It is the highlight of the Warrior’s career to date and a high point in the rankings, but he intends to keep climbing and leapfrog the two men above him, Mark Allen and Judd Trump.
‘It’s so strange because with the Shanghai Masters being brought forward this summer, I knew my European Masters win from two years ago was coming off my ranking,’ Wilson told Metro.co.uk. ‘I was worried I might miss Shanghai on the cut-off and I would have to win a couple of matches in the Worlds to avoid that.
‘Now I’m in the top bracket of the world rankings, number three, and I’m not that far off hitting that number one spot.
‘That’s definitely high on the agenda. I’d love to tick that one off. If you win the world title, the prize money is so top heavy you give yourself a shot at it and it’s something I want to capitalise on over the next two years.
‘I think in two year’s time, because I’ve had a poor season this year I’ll have nothing coming off, so within two year’s time you’ll see me at that number one spot.’
The 2024 World Championship is Wilson’s first Triple Crown success but his sixth ranking title and he now feels perfectly placed to start adding a lot more silverware to his CV in the near future, wanting more Crucible triumphs in the future.
‘I think I’m coming into my prime now,’ he said. ‘I feel like I’m playing the best snooker I’ve ever played. My stats have said that but I’ve not had the success to go along with the stats, which has been really frustrating.
‘The toughest one is this. To win this takes so much over such a long period of time. There’s so much pressure in there because you just get one hit at it every year and you know all the top guys are all geared up for it, gunning for that trophy.
‘So to win that one first off, out of all the big ones I could have won, I do think will release the shackles.’
There is not much rest on the agenda for the world champion, sticking to his commitments to play exhibitions in China and Finland, before sneaking in a holiday before the season starts again in June and the prestigious Shanghai Masters begins on 15 July.
‘I committed early on to doing some exhibitions out in China and to doing an event in Helsinki,’ he said. ‘I’ve got those all through May and I think it’s important to be a good role model and ambassador for snooker and do those sort of things as a world champion, so I’m staying committed to that.
‘Then it will be Portugal for the half term with the kids and Soph to celebrate what we’ve achieved.
‘I can’t wait for the season to start again. I think it’s a good thing, you want to strike while the iron’s hot. Obviously I’m full of confidence. A burden is off my shoulders. Not too much time to get carried away. I need routine and structure so I’m looking forward to getting back into it.
‘It’s great that a massive tournament like the Shanghai Masters is a lot earlier this year because it gets you straight back into it.’
World Rankings
- Mark Allen – £965,000
- Judd Trump – £911,000
- Kyren Wilson – £851,500
- Luca Brecel – £690,500
- Ronnie O’Sullivan – £659,000
MORE : Kyren Wilson setting lofty targets after first World Snooker Championship title
MORE : Emotional Kyren Wilson says family ‘sacrificed their whole lives’ for World Championship win
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