Snooker’s newly-crowned International Championship winner Kyren Wilson has explained why he hailed John Higgins as the ‘most complete’ player of all-time. Wilson’s comments sparked debate surrounding Ronnie O’Sullivan’s claim to the crown.
Wilson defeated Higgins 10-8 in China last week to claim his 12th ranking title. Speaking after the final, the 2024 Crucible champion lauded the 51-year-old as his “idol”.
‘The Warrior’ then continued to laud the four-time world champion as the ‘most complete player’, saying: “It was a really good final. The way [Higgins] played against Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals I knew I was in for a tough match.
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“It was about sticking in there and bouncing back if I made mistakes. He has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game.
“To play him in a final like this is a dream come true and it is an honour to win. I can remember him absolutely wiping the floor with me one year at the World Championship.
“When he gets on a roll and is in the groove he can blow anyone and everyone away. He is pretty much the most complete snooker player of all-time. To beat him in two big finals, at the Masters and here, I’m chuffed.”
Wilson’s ultimate compliment caused a debate among snooker fans between Higgins and seven-time world champion O’Sullivan.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via 247Bet, Wilson expanded on his comments to laud O’Sullivan as snooker’s GOAT
He said: “The debate is kind of a little bit different in that sense. I think Ronnie is the greatest of all time. There’s no doubt about that, but he’s done it in a different way.
“Ronnie’s done it in quite a stylish, flamboyant way. And in terms of a winner, Ronnie is the best winner of all time and the greatest player to do it.
“But in terms of, you know, if John’s not quite there on one day, he can win a World Championship with his D-game. He’s that good.
“So that’s kind of what I mean in terms of a complete player, because you’re not going to play your best all the time.
“And that’s been one of John’s biggest qualities, I think, over the years, where he’s been able to not play his best and still win major tournaments.”