Kyren Wilson said he feels facing up to snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Shanghai Masters semi-final has come at the best time possible.

The two Englishman will lock horns today with the first to win 10 frames securing themselves a place in the final and the chance to win a massive £200,000 – one of the biggest cash prizes in the season calendar.

The semi-final is a repeat of last year’s English Open final which O’Sullivan won comfortably 9-3 as Wilson, like many others have down the years, struggled to match his opponent’s brilliance.

But Wilson, the current world number eight, goes into the semi-final in arguably the best form of his life having finished last season reaching the World Championship semi-finals and more recently winning both the Paul Hunter Classic and the SangSom Six Red World Championship.

Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Pictures by Monique Limbos

He is just two more wins away from becoming the first man since John Higgins in 2001 to win three major consecutive snooker tournaments.

Many inside the game will see today’s showdown as Wilson’s best chance yet to show that he can compete and beat the very best the game has to offer.

Two years ago O’Sullivan was singing Wilson’s praises on his Twitter page and tipping him to become a future world champion.

After his thrilling 6-5 win over Ryan Day in the quarter-finals on Thursday, Wilson said: “If I wanted to take him (Ronnie O’Sullivan) on at any point in my career, now is probably a better time than ever.

“That doesn’t mean you are going to win. Ronnie is the best to have ever picked up a cue.

“He will be a tough opponent but I am going to enjoy the match.”

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