“I’ve competed against snooker’s top icons – Kyren Wilson resembles a particular legend.”

John Higgins expressed admiration for his competitor, Kyren Wilson, after their showdown at the Grand Prix in Hong Kong, drawing a parallel between Wilson and 1991 world champion John Parrott. Higgins, the celebrated Scottish snooker player often referred to as the Wizard of Wishaw, managed a comeback victory against the current world champion Wilson, defeating him 4-2. Initially trailing, Higgins turned the match around by seizing control in its latter stages and preventing Wilson from gaining further ground.

In a conversation with WST, the 49-year-old Higgins praised Wilson, likening his presence and confidence at the snooker table to that of the renowned John Parrott. Higgins stated, “The confidence I gained from the World Open is immense, but it’s crucial to bring that level when facing someone like Kyren. He’s starting to exude a significant aura around the table. Watching him play, I was reminded a lot of a young John Parrott.”

Continuing his commendation of Wilson’s abilities, Higgins remarked, “He’s like an enhanced version. No disrespect to John Parrott, who was an incredible player, but Kyren strikes the ball with such authority and self-belief, making it feel like he’ll pot every shot. It’s intimidating to face.” Higgins emphasized the necessity of performing at his best to compete with players of Wilson’s caliber. Reflecting on their previous encounters, he noted, “Spending a couple of days with him at the Crucible, where I narrowly defeated him in the semi-finals, you realize he has something extraordinary.”

Higgins also drew a comparison between Wilson and another snooker great, Mark Selby, highlighting how such champions distinguish themselves during tense matches. “I experienced a similar feeling with Mark Selby at the final. You just know these players are destined to become incredible champions,” he added.

During the match, Wilson lightened the atmosphere by humorously attaching a white cloth to his cue, playfully conceding to Higgins’ impressive century finish. John Parrott, whose brother-in-law is former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson, secured his world title in 1991 by defeating Jimmy White. However, it was his sole world championship victory as Stephen Hendry began his dominance in the sport.

Kyren Wilson earned his world champion title last year by defeating qualifier Jak Jones 18-14 at the Crucible.