Wilson slams ‘unplayable’ UK Championship set-up after shock exit | Other | Sport

Kyren Wilson pulled no punches as he lambasted “unplayable” conditions at the UK Championship. The 33-year-old crashed out of the prestigious tournament on Tuesday, suffering a cruel 6-4 loss to Elliot Slessor in the very first round.

The Kettering-born star wore a look of dejection at parts during his match and was quick to voice his frustration about the baize of York Barbican after the loss. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Just guesswork. [The] table was awful, cue was awful.

“Just very lost at the minute, to be honest. I mentally gave up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame, but tried my hardest. When you do not know where the balls are going to go – especially on tight pockets and unplayable conditions – it’s a recipe for disaster.

“I gave it my all. I wanted the world to swallow me up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame. It’s been a nightmare. You can’t win matches in this tournament using a cue first thing this morning.”

Wilson was also incredibly aggravated by the tight pockets on the table. He added: “It’s the last of the first round. The pockets are already tight. I don’t understand why they needed tightening.

“I get it for China, but here they played fine. Unplayable. I hit a few balls I thought were in. When you’re guessing with your cue as well, you feel as though you’re playing to nothing because there’s nothing to aim at.

“When the tables are so difficult, I just didn’t want to be out there, I wanted to shake his hand and walk out but people pay good money to watch you play snooker. I battled, gave it my all, but not to be.”

As a result of his win, Slessor now faces Barry Hawkins in the last-16 of the UK Championship on Thursday, December 4.