Last year’s World Championship success is inspiring him to conjure more frequent triumphs, 2025 German Masters champion Kyren Wilson has said.
The Englishman took his career tally of ranking titles to nine on Sunday after edging countryman Barry Hawkins 10-9 in a nail-biting final in Berlin.
Four of those nine victories have come in the span of just nine months with Wilson firmly establishing himself as one of the best players in the world at present.
The 32 year-old orchestrated an early 2-0 lead against Hawkins, but aside from that there was never more than a frame between them in an epic title-deciding showdown.
The duo traded century breaks and tactical battles in a compelling affair that went down to the wire, giving the tournament its first deciding-frame climax.
In a dramatic 19th frame, Wilson got in first with a break of 59 only to break down when an attempted plant went wide of the target.
Hawkins thought he had found a way to get back into the frame but went in-off with the cue ball after potting a difficult red down the rail.
Wilson duly sunk a different plant to get to the snooker’s required stage and soon after sealed the deal to pocket the £100,000 champion’s cheque.
It represents his third ranking title of the 2024/25 campaign following his glories at the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open, while it provides the perfect tonic to his near miss at the Masters a couple of weeks ago where he was denied in the final by Shaun Murphy.
“I was just trying to keep calm,” world number two Kyren Wilson told the World Snooker Tour.
“I felt like my game was still in good shape. Some of the balls that I missed, I had just landed a little bit awkward on.”
“I feel like when your cueing is good and you’re happy with your timing, you can kind of put it behind you and know that when you get your chance, you’re going to take it.
“If that plant goes in at 59, I probably go out with a bang – with a century – and go out in style. But yeah, not to be.
“It was probably good for the fans. They’ve been really treated this week to some good snooker, and a 10-9 final is probably the best they could wish for.
“It’s just amazing to walk away with the trophy, and I’d just like to say thank you very much to everyone for the support.
“The beauty of it all is, when you’ve proved to yourself that you can win the biggest thing of them all, it gives you confidence.
“If you can’t use it as confidence, then what’s the point in winning it? So I’ve used it to my advantage, I feel like I’m riding the crest of a wave.
“I’ve had a really, really good season, but there’s still a lot of tournaments left so hopefully more silverware on the horizon.”
Prior to the final session, Wilson took the opportunity to get the German fans at the tremendous Tempodrom arena on his side.
Standing at the top of the venue upon being introduced by emcee Rolf Kalb, the Kettering cueist encouraged the fans to clap along with his walk-on music.
It’s an area Wilson believes snooker players could utilise to generate a better atmosphere at some of the sport’s best destinations.
“I feel like with the dart players, some of their walk-ons are becoming iconic. And the boxers and stuff like that.
“Maybe it’s something some of the snooker players could look into for certain venues.
“You know, when you’re getting 2,500 fans bouncing with you and clapping to the beat, it’s inspiring.”
Kyren Wilson will have another opportunity to win silverware this week when he takes part in the Winners’ Group of Championship League Snooker on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The atmosphere will be markedly different for the invitational event’s conclusion, with the action at the Mattioli Arena transpiring behind closed doors.
Featured photo credit: WST
