Kyren's UK Championship hopes ended by rival Trump

Kyren Wilson compared facing Judd Trump to feeling like he was in a pinball machine as his Betway UK Championship campaign came to an end.

Wilson lost 6-4 in the quarter-finals to his perennial rival, with the two once again enjoying a rollercoaster battle behind closed doors in Milton Keynes.

But just getting the game close was an achievement in itself for the Kettering cueman, who barely had a chance to pot a ball when Trump started the match with two centuries.

And it’s that fightback that gave Wilson plenty of heart after the match, despite falling short of a first appearance in a UK Championship semi-final.

“In those first three frames, I’ve never seen anything like it – it was just mental snooker,” he said.

“I felt that I was in a pinball machine, the white was pinging everywhere and some of the pots were just incredible.

“I hadn’t done too much wrong but was 3-0 down. I had a few bad runs but then an awful lot of luck in the fourth frame to get me back into the match.

“It always seems to be a good match between us. I lost but I enjoyed it, coming from 3-0 down I was pleased I was able to make a fight of it.

“I was starting to take it to him and that’s what you’ve got to do when you’re playing against players like Judd.

“I’m slightly annoyed to have missed a blue, that would have put me 5-4 up and who knows what might have happened after that.”

Trump has proven a regular nemesis for Wilson, knocked out by last year’s world champion in three ranking events since September alone.

But the fact there are so many competitions to play in, albeit all of them without fans in Milton Keynes, has certainly been a blessing for the Warrior.

Christmas is upon us but snooker isn’t winding down yet, with next week’s Scottish Open and then the World Grand Prix to come before 2020 is out.

Wilson added: “I feel like I’ve played so much snooker lately, I’ve been going from one event to another, all in Milton Keynes, and it’s amazing that we’ve had all these tournaments to play in.

“I’m just looking forward to Christmas, spending time with the family and relaxing a bit.

“This was the big one for me, I’ve put some time into this and I’m disappointed it’s ended there.

“It’s about trying to win trophies, there are two more up for grabs before Christmas and I’ll be doing my best to win them.”

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