‘Didn’t want to be there’ – Snooker star considered walking out of UK Championship over ‘unplayable’ conditions

Kyren Wilson revealed he was close to a ‘mental breakdown’ during his defeat at the UK Championship on Tuesday.

The 2024 world champion crashed out to Elliot Slessor at the Barbican in York, losing 6-4 in difficult conditions for both players.

Wilson described the conditions as ‘unplayable’ while claiming his cue was ‘awful’.

Wilson appeared to be struggling throughout the match and at one point was seen with his head in his hands.

The 33-year-old was trying out a new cue at the tournament but it quickly became apparent that it was not up to standard.

The cue that was used in his world title win accidentally broke earlier this year when a cue maker was undergoing a repair on the stick.

A tough night at the table

“Just guesswork. Table was awful, cue was awful,” Wilson told the BBC.

“Just very lost at the minute, to be honest. I mentally gave up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame, but tried my hardest.

“When you do not know where the balls are going to go – especially on tight pockets and unplayable conditions – it’s a recipe for disaster.

“I gave it my all. I wanted the world to swallow me up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame. It’s been a nightmare. You can’t win matches in this tournament using a cue made first thing this morning.

“First thing this morning I’ve gone through four or five tips to give myself a chance. I’m just lost at the minute. Absolutely lost from something that’s totally out of my control.”

Wilson has struggled being away from his family while competing this year.

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The Kettering star admitted he is living out of a suitcase while fulfilling his snooker commitments.

And it looked as though things became a little too overwhelming for the Triple-Crown winner.

“If I’m totally honest with you, you were very close to seeing someone have a mental breakdown out there,” he said in a post-match press conference.

“If I’m totally honest with you. Didn’t want to go out, didn’t want to play.

“I work very hard with Chris [O’Connor] in the hypnotherapy and to be honest it’s credit to him that you’ve not seen something you didn’t want to see tonight. If it wasn’t for him I think you would have seen me have a mental breakdown out there.”

Offering support

Responding to Wilson’s comments, WPBSA (world snooker’s governing body) chairman Jason Ferguson said: “We take the mental health of players very seriously, we know what a tough sport this can be and the emotional strains it can put on players and their families.

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“Over the years we have spoken to many players and hopefully given them the help, guidance and signposting they have needed.

“Through WPBSA Players, which is WPBSA’s athletes’ commission, there are support mechanisms in place including a confidential hotline.

“We are signed up to support the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation and we have a partnership with Sporting Chance which helps people in many sports.

“I spoke to Kyren late last night and we wish him all the best, our door is always open to him to help in any way we can.”

Slesser, who booked his spot in the last 16 with victory over Wilson, agreed that the conditions were far from favourable for the players.

“It was very, very tight. That’s the last game of round one so If it’s going to play its worst, it’s going to play its worst in that match,” he told the BBC.

“I just found it really tight. I thought the cloth had minimal grip. But it had lots of games on. What can you do? You’ve just got to battle. I was just battling away.”