What Cue Does Kyren Wilson Use?
Short answer: Kyren Wilson plays with a GBL Vanquish cue, the range sold by UK retailer Green Baize, and he used it throughout his 2024 World Championship win. He is one of two players in the top 16 using GBL Vanquish cues, alongside Gary Wilson. Its exact specifications have not been published.
| Spec | What we know |
|---|---|
| Maker | GBL Vanquish (Green Baize) |
| Length | Not publicly documented |
| Weight | Not publicly documented |
| Tip | Not publicly documented |
| Joint | Not publicly documented |
| Source confidence | High on the maker; specs unknown |
A world title with a GBL
Green Baize states that Wilson, the 2024 world champion, played with a GBL cue during his title run, and that he and Gary Wilson are the two top-16 players currently using GBL Vanquish cues. John Higgins also plays with a GBL Vanquish, so the range has a strong record at the top level.
GBL cues are selected and finished by Green Baize rather than built from scratch for each player, which makes Wilson’s success an encouraging story for anyone who thinks a world-class cue has to be a one-off commission.
The split tip at the Crucible
Wilson’s most memorable cue drama came long before his title. In the 2017 World Championship quarter-final against John Higgins, with the score at 3-3, the tip of his cue split. He lost the match 13-6. It is a harsh example of how much a tip matters, and why professionals carry spares and take tip maintenance seriously.
How the cue suits his game
Nicknamed The Warrior, Wilson is a determined, attacking player with a strong long game and the resilience to grind through tough sessions. Because his specifications are not public, we would not claim a particular weight or tip size. What his choice shows is that a well-selected, well-set-up production cue can win the biggest title in the sport.
Production cues at the highest level
There is a common belief that professionals all play with one-off handmade cues. Wilson’s world title is a useful counter-example. GBL cues are selected and finished by a retailer, and players choose from what is available, as John Higgins did when he went looking for a replacement. The lesson for club players is that a carefully chosen production cue can be as good as a custom build, provided the shaft is straight and the balance suits you.
Why tips split
Tips are made from layered or solid leather, and they compress and wear with use. A tip can split if it has dried out, been over-shaped or taken a lot of heavy screw shots, or if it was poorly glued. Professionals re-tip regularly and many carry spare cues or tips to tournaments. Wilson’s 2017 experience at the Crucible shows why that preparation matters.
For a club player, the practical advice is to check your tip before every session, keep it shaped with a scuffer rather than a file, and replace it before it becomes too thin.
The Warrior’s style
Wilson combines aggressive long potting with a determined all-round game, which suits a stable, medium-weight cue with a reliable tip. His title run was built on resilience as much as flair, and a cue he trusts is part of that.
Choosing a production cue wisely
If Wilson’s success encourages you to look at production cues, choose carefully. Check the shaft for straightness by rolling it on a flat surface and sighting along it. Look for evenly spaced, straight grain running along the shaft rather than across it. Make sure the joint, if it has one, screws together smoothly and sits flush. Weigh the cue if you can, since production cues can vary by half an ounce or more from the stated figure. Finally, check that the tip is well fitted and flush with the ferrule. A cue that passes all those checks can serve you for many years.
It is also worth budgeting for a proper case and a spare tip at the same time. Wilson’s split tip in 2017 happened at the worst possible moment; at club level a spare tip and a few minutes’ work can save an evening’s practice.
Want a cue like Kyren Wilson’s?
- A good production cue can go all the way. Compare quality snooker cues from entry level upwards before assuming you need a custom build.
- Learn to maintain your tip. After what happened to Wilson in 2017, knowing how to re-tip a snooker cue at home is a useful skill.
- Understand the weight you like. This guide explains the difference between 17, 18 and 19 oz cues.
Frequently asked questions
What cue did Kyren Wilson win the World Championship with?
Kyren Wilson won the 2024 World Championship with a GBL Vanquish cue from UK retailer Green Baize. According to Green Baize, he and Gary Wilson are the two players in the top 16 of the world rankings who use GBL Vanquish cues.
What happened to Kyren Wilson’s cue in 2017?
In his 2017 World Championship quarter-final against John Higgins, the tip of Wilson’s cue split with the match level at 3-3. He went on to lose 13-6, a harsh reminder of how much the condition of a tip can affect a player’s game.
What are Kyren Wilson’s cue specs?
Kyren Wilson has not published the length, weight or tip size of his GBL Vanquish cue, and we could not find a reliable source for them. Any exact figures quoted online, including on retailer and fan sites, should be treated as unconfirmed.
