Snooker legend Jimmy White has urged Kyren Wilson to take some time off.

Since clinching his first World Championship title last May, the Warrior has been on a roll, winning three ranking titles and making it to The Masters final at Alexandra Palace, where he lost to an inspired Shaun Murphy. With the 2025 World Championship on the horizon, Wilson will be a top contender as he looks to break the ‘Crucible curse’ of no first-time winner ever defending the title the following final year.

However, Wilson’s form dipped at the Welsh Open, leading to an unexpected second-round exit at the hands of Joe O’Connor. Six-time Crucible finalist White believes the 33-year-old is showing signs of fatigue and needs a break.

“Kyren Wilson, amazing what he did to win the German [Masters, where he beat Barry Hawkins 10-9 in the final recently] after losing in the final of The Masters,” said White on Eurosport.

“But he looks a little bit burnt out, [he] needs a little rest now to get ready for the World Championship, because he didn’t play well in that match [against O’Connor].

“Listen, the way he played in The Masters, he came back in the final [after a slow start against Murphy], didn’t play his A-game, but he’s a tenacious winner, gives 100% all the time.”

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“To go and win in Germany, I just thought even his early matches here… [He] looks like he needs to put the cue away for a week or so.”

The Welsh Open gave Wilson the chance to overtake Neil Robertson in the race to win the Home Nations Series bonus of £150,000. But he couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity as he went down 4-3 to O’Connor in Llandudno. Robertson will take the bonus unless Luca Brecel wins the Welsh Open.

The Belgian has reached the semi-finals, where he faces Mark Selby in a repeat of the 2023 World Championship final. Ali Carter plays Stephen Maguire in the other semi-final.

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