Ronnie O'Sullivan shows true colours with text message to 'snooker's Scottie Scheffler'

Ronnie O'Sullivan revealed conscionable however highly helium thinks of Kyren Wilson who secured transition to the quarter-finals of the UK Championship by dispatching Chris Wakelin

Reigning satellite champion Kyren Wilson was fixed the eventual compliment by Ronnie O'Sullivan who branded him the 'Scottie Scheffler of snooker'.

The caller elevation of the 32-year-old's crippled saw 'The Warrior' clinch the World Championship earlier this year erstwhile defeating qualifier Jak Jones 18-14.

Wilson's sensation of silverware lone enhanced this play wherever helium emerged victorious astatine the Xi'an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open to adhd to his trophy cabinet.

The snooker prima is present successful bully stead to adhd a 3rd trophy this play arsenic helium reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship aft making speedy enactment of Chris Wakelin successful a 6-2 win.

Wilson's accordant awesome signifier has brought distant praise from O'Sullivan who was bounced retired of the contention helium won past twelvemonth aft being defeated 4‍–‍6 by Barry Hawkins successful the opening round.

The eight-time UK Championship victor admitted that Wilson volition proceed to rack up tourney wins acknowledgment to his quality to execute nether pressure. "It depends however bully you are, immoderate it tin destruct their vocation and can’t grip the pressure," helium said to Eurosport erstwhile asked astir the pressures of being a world champion.

"Some players who person the endowment and person got the pedigree, they emergence successful stature and spell connected to triumph many, galore things. I would decidedly enactment Kyren successful that bracket wherever [he] is going to triumph many, galore much large tournaments."

The multifaceted quality of Wilson's crippled reminds O'Sullivan of the two-time Masters champion who helium compared him to. "He reminds maine of Scottie Scheffler, the golfer," the 48-year-old said.

"You get a batch of radical who thrust the shot a agelong way, bash this well, bash that well. He [Wilson] does everything precise good and erstwhile helium is connected it, helium is simply a pugnacious competitor."

As good arsenic praising him successful public, O'Sullivan showed his people erstwhile revealing that helium sent Wilson a substance connection urging him to instrumentality vantage of the precocious level he's presently playing at. "It’s consistency levels basically, helium does what looks elemental but it’s not simple, but helium does it precise efficiently," O’Sullivan said. "That’s wherefore I deliberation he’s the champion subordinate successful the world.

"If helium gets to the semis my wealth is connected him each time due to the fact that large temperament, large game. He’s had it hard. Worked down the barroom erstwhile helium fell disconnected the tour. He’s a warrior. I cognize that’s his nickname, but he’s had it hard. Now he’s satellite champion, got a large life, large family, helium ain’t letting this go.

"I did nonstop him a substance saying 'this is your time, spell and get arsenic galore majors arsenic you tin due to the fact that there’ll beryllium a clip erstwhile it don’t hap for you'."

With Michael Holt presently lasting successful his mode of progressing to the semi-finals wherever he'll instrumentality connected the victor of satellite fig 1 Judd Trump and Zhang Anda, O'Sullivan has backed Wilson arsenic 1 of the favourites.

"With Kyren it was astir belief," O’Sullivan added. "There was a batch of chat, sometimes criticising his game, and helium would person heard that. But having been the satellite champion, winning 2 tournaments this year. For me, if helium gets to the semi-finals helium is the antheral to beat."