Emotional Kyren Wilson Reveals Near ‘Mental Breakdown’ After Shock UK Championship Defeat

Former world snooker champion Kyren Wilson revealed he was on the verge of a “mental breakdown” during his unexpected 6-4 loss to Elliot Slessor in the UK Championship’s last 32. The Englishman appeared visibly dejected throughout the match at York Barbican, particularly after a crucial missed pink in the opening frame.

“I’m just very lost at the minute,” the world number two told reporters, tearfully, following the match. “You were very close to seeing someone have a mental breakdown out there.” Wilson explained his deep frustration, stating, “I gave it my all, but I wanted the world to swallow me up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame. It’s been a nightmare. I just had to sit there and suffer and try my best. I battled – I gave it my all – but I just knew I couldn’t win.”

Wilson, 33, captured the World Championship title in May 2023 and secured four tournament wins last season. However, his performance has significantly declined this season, with five losses in his last seven matches. His sole title this season came at the Shanghai Masters, and he has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals in any ranking event. Millenium TV previously reported Wilson’s struggles earlier this year, when he spoke about battling “emotionally and mentally” due to his wife Sophie’s health issues. In October, he expressed hope that positive news regarding her health would help him regain his peak form. “My family have suffered enough with the stress I’ve put them under with trying to find something for this tournament,” he commented on Tuesday. “It’s about them now.”

Adding to his frustrations, Wilson criticized both his cue and the playing conditions. The cue he used to win his world title was damaged during refurbishment at the start of the current season. “I want to smash the place up. I am so angry at what has happened,” he stated, describing it as “a freak accident that was totally out of my control that has ruined the cue that I felt like I was conquering the world with. I don’t know where to look next.” He recounted desperate attempts to fix the issue, saying, “I have had different cue makers. I was at a cue manufacturer last night trying to sort something out. I was changing ferrules, changing tips. I must have picked up six yesterday. How can you go and win a match like that?” Regarding the table, Wilson described play as “just guesswork.” He added, “When you don’t know where the balls are going to go, especially on tight pockets and unplayable conditions, it’s just a recipe for disaster.”

Slessor, who now advances to face 2024 runner-up Barry Hawkins in the last 16, acknowledged the challenging conditions. “I found it tight and thought the cloth had minimal grip, but it’s had a lot of games on it,” he explained. Six-time world champion Steve Davis characterized Wilson’s performance as a “bad day in the office,” noting, “The sheen goes off the cloth and it can be a difficult session to play. It can sometimes drag the level down.”