World champions champion Kyren Wilson believes his journey to the top has been like a Rocky Balboa film. And now he has realised his boyhood dream, the newest King of the Crucible is hungry to build a long-lasting legacy in the sport.
The Warrior, 32, clinched his maiden world crown with a fine 18-14 victory over surprise package Jak Jones on Monday night. All of his family’s sacrifices paid off as he lifted the trophy aloft with tears in his eyes.
His parents bought a derelict house, which had not been lived in for 40 years, because it had the potential to build a snooker room in.
And they had to remortgage the property multiple times to fund Wilson’s development in the early days. Now the sky is the limit for the world No.3 who is eying up multiple world titles. “It’s like a Rocky Balboa story,” said Wilson, who came close to walking away from the sport in 2013.