Can Kyren stop The Rocket?
Kyren Wilson goes into the final of the English Open knowing he has to be at his absolute best if he is to have any chance of stopping Ronnie O’Sullivan picking up the title.
The Rocket has been in sublime form all week long - by far the star performer of the tournament.
He was pushed closest in a classic encounter with John Higgins in the last 16 where he had to come back from 3-2 down to snatch a 4-3 victory, but barring this he has always looked in complete control and has moved through the rounds with ease.
Even when he had to stave off a mini-revival from Anthony McGill in the last four, it always felt like he had that extra bit of quality to pull away when it mattered.
It’s just been one of those weeks where there’s been an air of inevitability about his progress. Every time he’s come into the arena in Barnsley he’s looked completely in the zone and has gone about his business in a quick and efficient manner. He’s been a man on a mission.
There really is no greater sight in snooker. As Ronnie shifts effortlessly through the gears he makes the game look embarrassingly easy and blows his opponents off the table with great control and poise.
O’Sullivan in this kind of form looks close to unbeatable – and that is the mammoth task ahead of Wilson in this final.
While the build-up to this match will unsurprisingly be the Ronnie O’Sullivan show, we shouldn’t forget that Kyren has had an excellent week himself. He has shined particularly in the long-potting department and secured wins against dangerous opponents including Xiao Guodong and Hossein Vafaei.
As well as ability, Kyren is blessed with an abundance of steely determination. He found himself 3-2 down in the semi-final to a rampant Alexander Ursenbacher before he turned on the style to reel off four straight frames to wrap up the win and demonstrate once again what a clinical force he is becoming.
This is Wilson’s second final of the season following his 10-3 defeat to Ding Junhui at the World Open a little under a month ago.
That contest quickly became very one-sided and Kyren will have to bring an extremely solid performance to the table just to hang onto O’Sullivan’s coat tails and avoid another heavy defeat.
More so than in most finals, you just feel Wilson needs a strong start. If he falls behind, it could be a very long day trying to tame the irresistible Rocket. But if Kyren can get a foothold in the match, we could be in for an absolute classic. Ronnie might well be the star attraction. Wilson though is a bright young English talent with a huge amount of potential.
