Kettering's Kyren is eyeing up some Triple Crown joy

Kyren Wilson admits he’s prepared to sacrifice family time to become UK champion next month.

The Kettering potter moved into the third round of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-3 win over veteran Ken Doherty and is ramping up preparations for next week’s UK Championship – one of snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown events.

The tournament will be held in Milton Keynes, rather than its traditional York venue, and the 2020 World Championship finalist, a family man at heart, reckons subtle adjustments to his lifestyle can make the event feel just as special.

“I’m really looking forward to it – it’s one of our majors and it’s obviously disappointing we’re not in York,” said Wilson, 28.

“I’m going to try and look at doing something different just to try and make it feel a little bit more special for myself.

“It can be hard coming to the same place all the time and you just feel like you’re playing in the same tournaments. It’s no disrespect to anyone who’s getting the events on, it’s just how it is.

“We’re very lucky you have them on and I just need to work out how I’m going to try and make it feel more special and make it feel like it is the UK Championship.

“I live quite close so I’ve been travelling back and forth from my home, so maybe staying in the hotel, which is what I would normally do, and maybe sacrifice a bit of family time to do it.

“The UK Championship is something you want on your CV by the end of your career, so that’s the most important thig and if I can win it next week it would be amazing.”

Northamptonshire’s world No.5 was forced to battle against 1997 world champion Doherty but breaks of 95, and then a fluent 135 in the decider, edged him over the line at the Marshall Arena.

Wilson was downed by six-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in this year’s Crucible final but followed that up with a fourth ranking event title in the Championship League.

The 2018 German Masters winner did not want that Sheffield success to be a flash in the pan and admits building on his run to the final was a No.1 priority.

“I think it’s been important to follow up the run to the Crucible with consistency and good performances,” he added.

“I’ve managed to do that and winning a title takes a little bit of pressure off. For the majority of players the aim is to at least win one title a year, so at least I’ve managed to do that.

“There are a lot of big events left to go and it’s a good time to start producing good snooker.”

Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport, Eurosport app, and stream on discovery+