Ronnie O’Sullivan feels Kyren Wilson is the best player in the world right now and text the world champion to encourage him to fill his boots in terms of titles while he is in his prime.
The Warrior reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship on Thursday night with a pretty comfortable 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin.
It has been serene progress for him so far in York having beaten Stephen Maguire 6-0 in his opener.
The Rocket has been very impressed with what he has seen from the 32-year-old of late and feels there are a lot of big trophies in his future.
‘It’s consistency levels basically, he does what looks simple but it’s not simple, but he does it very efficiently,’ O’Sullivan said on Eurosport. ‘That’s why I think he’s the best player in the world.
‘If he gets to the semis my money is on him all day because great temperament, great game.
‘He’s had it hard. Worked behind the bar when he fell off the tour. He’s a warrior. I know that’s his nickname, but he’s had it hard. Now he’s world champion, got a great life, great family, he ain’t letting this go.
‘I did send him a text saying “this is your time, go and get as many majors as you can because there’ll be a time when it don’t happen for you”.
‘But he’s got to make the most of it now because he’s got the game in his hands, really.’
Wilson admitted that he hasn’t been feeling great at the UK Championship so far, despite the two impressive wins, with the pressure of the big event perhaps bothering him.
‘I’ll be honest I don’t feel myself this week, I don’t know why. I’ve felt really anxious this week,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what it is. The big Triple Crown events have a little bit more feel to them.
‘I’m quite aware that this is my time in the game and I want to make the most of it.
‘I think probably most snooker players have it. It’s just about managing it. We can be playing amazing in practice, come here and it goes tits up. That’s the beauty of the game, you don’t know until frame one how it’s going to go.
‘I don’t know if it’s about being world champion. I’ve just got such high hopes and I just want to win.’
O’Sullivan recognised the feeling Wilson described and praised the world champ’s ability to hide it in the heat of battle.
‘I feel exactly the same as him,’ said the Rocket. ‘But when you’re out there watching him he don’t look like it. Some people are feeling it and they look like it.
‘He’s got something he naturally carries with him, very stoic. It’s a great thing to have in your locker, when you don’t show it.’
Wilson faces either Jak Jones or Michael Holt in the quarter-finals in York on Friday.
MORE: Judd Trump certain John Higgins is sick of him after latest UK Championship win
MORE: Michael Holt has learned the ‘key to success’ as renaissance continues
MORE: Stuart Bingham on last Zhang Anda meeting: ‘I absolutely hammered him’
