‘It was a nightmare’ – Kyren Wilson breaks silence on health issue after Tour Championship snooker suspended
KYREN WILSON is trying to see the positive side after a nosebleed derailed his Tour Championship challenge.
The World No2 was forced to leave the auditorium in Manchester during his 10-5 loss to Ding Junhui.
Wilson needed medical attention after the unexpected health issue twice caused the contest to be suspended.
Play was halted for 30 minutes as the 33-year-old was treated backstage by medics.
He returned to the table, only for his nose to start dripping blood again.
Wilson was heard to quip: “I thought there was a red over the pocket.”
But he later admitted to ITV: “It was a nightmare.
“I think it was just exhaustion.”
Wilson is no stranger to nosebleeds during matches, with the Kettering star suffering a bleed during his 2018 World Championship semi-final against John Higgins.
The stoppage on Thursday came at the worst possible time for Wilson, who already trailed 6-1.
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He returned to the baize after the enforced break but missed a long red.
Ding took full advantage and cleared the table with a break of 80 to go 7-1 up.
Despite later threatening a comeback from 8-1 down, Wilson eventually lost the quarter-final contest 10-5.
He added: “I went deep in the Players Championship and then had three back-to-back exhibitions after that.
“In hindsight it is probably a good thing [I’ve been knocked out].
“It’ll give me two weeks to knuckle down and get a bit of rest and get ready for the World Championships.”
Snooker’s elite are preparing to head to the Crucible later this month for the World Championship.
Wilson is the defending champion having won the tournament in 2024.
He has been handed the top seed for the event, with Judd Trump No2 and Mark Selby No3.
Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is given the No4 seed – but still hasn’t confirmed if he will appear in Sheffield.
The Rocket has been an ever-present at the Crucible since turning professional in 1992.
But he hasn’t appeared on the World Snooker Tour since January after smashing up his cue during the Championship League.