Snooker fans feel Ronnie O’Sullivan wouldn’t have been given the same treatment as Kyren Wilson after the world champion’s explosive rant about being snubbed from the main TV table before being knocked out of the British Open on Thursday evening.
It was just four months ago that Wilson pulled off the biggest win of his career to clinch his first World Championship title.
He built on that success with an impressive victory at the China Grand Prix last month, which included wins over O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
The 32-year-old returned to home soil earlier this month for the English Open, where he lost to Barry Hawkins in the last-16.
That match saw Wilson and Hawkins take to the green baize at around 11pm with the match running close to 1am before it ended.
He was snubbed from the main table at the new Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this month as well, where he felt ‘demoted’.st 2 paragraphs
Kyren Wilson was not happy about playing on the number two table
PA
And his British Open clash with Elliot Slessor was placed on the number two table while Mark Selby’s match against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh was chosen for the TV table.
Wilson vented his frustrations about his treatment online after losing to Slessor, questioning why he was not given the number one table.
In a passionate post on Instagram, he wrote: “Same s*** different day demoted to table 2 again and get found out!
“What benefits does a world champion get nowadays?
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“Graveyard shift in Brentwood, table 2 in Saudi every game whilst being the number 1 seed there!
“Table 2 tonight in Cheltenham and being the highest ranked in the session…
“Unfortunately nothing ever changes with the sport I love, if your face doesn’t fit… tough [thumbs up emoji].”
Wilson doubled down on his statement with a follow-up message on X, writing: “People can have their opinions, always been that you earn the right for the privileges.
“Apparently not anymore.
“I always try to promote the sport & be a good ambassador for it. What’s the point?”
And the reigning world champion received plenty of support online for his rant with many asking why Wilson was snubbed from the main table.
One reply read: “100 per cent agree with what you say. It’s disgusting that you as world champion still don’t get the same privilege as other players.”
Kyren Wilson won the World Championship just four months ago
PA
Another wrote: “Thought the same when watching, had it been Ronnie as world champ no way he’d be shifted.”
A third said: “The world champion should be on the number 1 table, I wonder if Ronnie had played would he be on late or on table 2 I think not.”
One other person sarcastically quipped: “Spot on, good job Ronnie wasn’t in it as they’d have you out in the car park.”
Another posted: “I agree with you Kyren, you as world champion should play on the main table.”
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Some snooker fans feel Ronnie O’Sullivan would have never been moved to the number two table
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However, there were some others who felt Wilson’s style of play was what ultimately led to British Open officials choosing Selby’s match against Un-Nooh for the main TV table.
One message read: “You’re a nice guy but even I switch off when you’re on the TV, sorry.”
Another said: “People would rather watch Selby vs Un-Nooh which is understandable surely? Albeit a shame for you.”
A third posted: “World champion yes but good to watch no.”