Snooker world champion Kyren Wilson blasts table following loss to Judd Trump after BBC pundit demanded major change
KYREN WILSON slammed table fitters for ruining his UK Championship dream as he was blasted off the baize by century-maker Judd Trump.
The Juddernaut, 35, moved into a fourth UK final – his first for four years – with a 6-2 victory over the reigning world champion at York’s Barbican.
Trump – who notched two tons as he came from two frames behind – passed snooker’s £1million mark this season as he is guaranteed a cheque for at least £100,000 on Sunday.
A semi-final contest between the two best players in the world did not live up to its Box Office billing and was instead a scrappier, inconsistent occasion.
Wilson, 32, blamed the conditions and playing surface, particularly as he missed two key rest shots, which are normally a strength.
He fumed: “I don’t like to drop anyone in it but for me you’ve got to be looking at the table fitters.
“The tables have been really, really poor all week. Every time I’ve played, the tables have been drifting to the right.
“When you lose faith in the table, you start to question your technique, you’re wondering if you’re putting a bit of side on the ball.
“If World Snooker want to have these great matches, these great rivalries, they need to be looking at the conditions a little bit more.
“Something is going on. Whether the floor’s not quite level. Something needs looking at.
“Because unfortunately the fans aren’t going to get value for money.
“I’ve been calling it even from working in the BBC studio this week. It’s not as if I’m sulking and saying it after a loss.
“It’s disappointing but I’d love these majors to have perfect conditions – because then you’re going to get the best snooker.”
Proceedings were delayed at the start by a few minutes when eagled-eyed Trump noticed a “little chip” out of the cueball and it was replaced by referee Rob Spencer.
The Warrior led 2-0 but by the mid-session interval, it was 2-2 as Trump overcame a “sticky start”, scoring a 100 in frame four.
From there, the Bristol potter took advantage, maintaining his excellent form since the summer, and sealed his passage with a closing 100 – his NINTH century break of the tournament.
Former world champion Trump will battle it out for the £250,000 title against either Barry Hawkins or Mark Allen over the best of 19 frames.
On the conditions, Trump said: “It was tricky. There was a black I played in one of the frames towards the end and it rolled off quite a lot.
“Its difficult – the conditions outside affect it. I don’t have too many moans about the table – certainly a lot better now than the start of the week.”
Trump, the 2011 UK champion, will be watched live by his parents – often his triumphs happen abroad when they cannot attend.
On surpassing six figures in prize money three weeks before Christmas, he responded: “It’s a great achievement.
“If I had that kind of money at the start of my career, then maybe I’d have gone off the rails. I’m a little bit more mature now. Everything happens at the right time.
Trump vs Wilson
SNOOKER’s Class of ’92 are fading away – with two English superstars ready to forge a new era.
Judd Trump has declared he’s ready to battle reigning world champion Kyren Wilson for “the next 10 years” or more.
Current world No 1 Trump admitted Wilson’s meteoric rise over the last twelve months has “pushed him forward” as a player.
The Class of ’92 refers to the legendary trio of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williamson.
With 14 world titles among them, the three players have dominated UK snooker over the past three decades.
But as their powers begin to fade, Wilson and Trump appear ready to fill the rivalry vacuum.
Read more on snooker’s new big rivalry between Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson…
“When you’re younger you want all that money and think you’ll buy everything and go mad. Now I’ve got it, I don’t want to spend it.
“It’s amazing to be back in the final. Every trophy is on my hit list.
There’s none that go on top of the tree – I want to win every single event!”
