World snooker champion Kyren Wilson broke down in tears when he first used the bathroom at home after Crucible triumph
KYREN WILSON says he burst out in tears when he used the bathroom at home for the first time following his Crucible triumph.
On Monday May 6, Wilson celebrated with his family as he beat Welsh qualifier Jak Jones 18-14 to lift a maiden World Snooker Championship.
The father of two boys was never going to go to bed early after the best night of his professional life.
The Kettering star partied so hard with friends and family that he made it all the way through to a 7.30am breakfast fry-up at the hotel.
He danced with snooker MC Rob Walker, who donned a pal’s pink shorts when his black trousers accidentally split.
When Wilson did nip some shuteye, his kids took a photo of him asleep with the world trophy lid on his face.
On the road back to Northamptonshire, he was congratulated by well-wishers at a petrol station.
The enormity of what he had achieved – he is the 23rd person to become King of Snooker in Sheffield – only hit home the next day.
Wilson, 32, told SunSport: “When I got home. I went to the bathroom, scrolled my phone and burst out crying.
“I was absolutely inconsolable for a second – I just couldn’t believe it. I still don’t think it has sunk in. It’ll take a few weeks for sure.
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“It was the first time I’d watched the final back when my brother ran over to celebrate. The kids ran over, too.
“There’s a beautiful little moment where my son Finley actually says: ‘Dad, you’re a world champion.’ That really hit home. It made me fill up a little bit.
“On the Tuesday night. I took the trophy to show everyone at our local club.
“They were doing free champagne for everyone, celebrating my win. I was planning to nip in there quickly with the trophy to say thank you.
“Got in there at 6.30pm – and left at 12.30am!”
Wilson, the new world No.3, has several exhibitions in the diary this month in China and Finland but he has vowed to be a “good ambassador” for the sport.
Days after the Crucible win, he supported his six-year-old son Bailey, who took part in a nineball pool under-17s event in Telford.
Some of the £500,000 winnings might be used on purchasing property in Portugal so his dad Rob – who has Multiple sclerosis – can benefit from a warm climate.
Wilson said: “Something I’ve always said and always wanted to do was retire eventually out to Portugal.
Kyren Wilson's career
Kyren Wilson career breakdown
Matches played: 1040
Wins: 653 (62.79%)
Snooker titles: Six
Highest world ranking: 3 (current)
Maximum breaks: 5
Career earnings: £3,343,086
“It’s the place that I love. And with my dad’s health, it’d be great to have a permanent property where he can book a flight and head out to the sunshine when he needs it.
“Hopefully there might be a holiday home on the horizon.
“He’s like my dad when he’s in the sunshine – happy, a feelgood factor, a bit of Vitamin D. In and out of the pool, it helps his bones and movements.”
Wilson, nicknamed the Warrior, is confident he can do what nobody has done before in snooker – and crush the Crucible Curse.
For the next 11 months, the Curse topic will be mentioned and spoken about and it is something he must embrace.
No first-time winner in Sheffield has ever successfully retained the trophy the following year.
The likes of Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and John Higgins all tried but failed.
Wilson added: “Believe it or not, I was chatting with the guys I’m working with and it was something we talked about during the final.
“We said we feel we’re in a good position and well capable of being the first one to stop that Crucible Curse.
“I feel I’m quite well-equipped to handle it. I don’t feel like I’m a flash in the pan.
“I’m quite level-headed. I feel I have all the assets to handle any situation. I feel I can give it a good shot.”
