Snooker star gives heartbreaking interview revealing struggles after World Championship exit

Jack Otway
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:39:32 +0000

Gary Wilson has opened up about his battle with the yips following his first-round exit from the World Snooker Championship, describing himself as "completely lost" in his career.

The 40-year-old from the North East suffered a 10-5 defeat to Judd Trump on Tuesday evening at the Crucible, a match that included two remarkable flukes going against him.

In a remarkably frank interview after the loss, Wilson admitted he constantly arrives at tournaments "feeling like an embarrassment" despite continuing to earn a living on the professional circuit.

The three-time ranking event winner, who reached the World Championship semi-finals seven years ago, insisted his struggles are purely technical rather than mental, and called out television commentators for failing to recognise the true nature of his difficulties.

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Speaking to the BBC after his defeat, Wilson delivered an extraordinarily candid assessment of his game, stating: "Deep down, I was cueing awful as usual. It's just constant disappointment. I am and always have been since the age of 13 a better player than this."

The player known as the Tyneside Terror described his condition as worsening, saying: "The yips are getting worse. I'm just riding through it."

Wilson expressed frustration that spectators fail to notice his technical problems, explaining: "People are watching and going, 'you're playing good'. I'm missing all the really bad shots and all the really snatchy ones."

He added: "I'm just masking the problems. It's just debilitating. I just wish I could have a game like I used to have."

Wilson reserved particular criticism for television pundits who he believes resort to clichéd explanations for his poor performances.

"It's not composure. I get that nonsense as well off commentators and stuff," he said. "It's honestly not composure. It's a little bit of heart and a little bit of an embarrassment."

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The former taxi driver accused analysts of taking the easy route rather than addressing his genuine struggles, adding: "There's a bit of laziness from pundits and commentators as well at times, who think it's the usual cliche composure, negative thoughts, shot selection and all that nonsense."

He urged those covering the sport to be more direct: "Come on, speak about the real issues. Gary is struggling with these shots. I am struggling out there. My confidence is on the floor."

Despite his current difficulties, Wilson has enjoyed considerable success during his career, claiming three ranking titles and banking £286,700 in prize money over the past two seasons.

His finest moment at the Crucible came when he progressed to the last four of the World Championship in 2019.

Yet the 40-year-old admitted he feels trapped in a cycle of decline, telling reporters: "I just can't physically even cue the ball anymore. I don't know if there is any answer to get back to where I was."

Wilson revealed he has begun seeking outside help, though he maintains his issues are not psychological in nature.

"I'm even starting to speak to somebody," he said.

"It's not a sort of mental thing for me.

"My temperament isn't bad, honestly, when I'm feeling like I can actually just cue the ball in a straight line."