World champion Kyren Wilson using hypnotherapist in bid to make snooker history

Kyren Wilson has already envisioned making history by breaking the 'Crucible curse'. Almost 50 years since the put down roots at the iconic Sheffield venue, not a single first-time winner has managed to defend the title the following year.

Not even Steve Davis, or - with 28 world titles between them - could manage it. However, few players have returned to the Crucible as confident, well-prepared and in such good form as the Warrier. Wilson has enjoyed a superlative campaign, winning four tournaments, including March's Players Championship. And he is full of belief he can win the big one again in 2025.

"I believe so," he said during the Players Championship in an exclusive interview for Reach's special World Championship publication, which is

"I've had a season that would back those claims. Winning three titles so far [he made it four a few days later] and having a very consistent season... I'm going into it with a lot of confidence and I'll be one of the players to beat."

Breaking the curse has come up regularly in his sessions with Chris O'Connor, a solution-based hypnotherapist who began working with Wilson a year ago. O'Connor says the Warrior had envisaged snapping the curse even before winning his first world title.

"Kyren was visualising lifting the trophy, not last year, but this year, before he'd even won it the first time," reveals O'Connor, who also works with darts players Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall, plus UFC star Tom Aspinall. "We're set on breaking that Crucible curse, that's what we're working on. He'll tell you he's going to do it."

Wilson and O'Connor linked up shortly before last year's World Championship. The fact he went on to lift snooker's biggest prize straight away was no coincidence.

"He's been a massive addition to my team," said Wilson of O'Connor, who works out of Eccleston Park Hypnotherapy in Merseyside. "I only started working with Chris two weeks before the World Championship. That shows you what an impact he had on me. I was so relaxed, so calm during that tournament.

"We've managed to follow that up and keep up consistent sessions throughout this season. I've already had three sessions with Chris this week [this interview is taking place on a Wednesday]."

Thanks in part to his work with O'Connor, Wilson hasn't felt weighed down by the tag of world champion over the last 12 months. He said: "It's just given me so much confidence. If you can't take confidence from winning the biggest tournament of all, what's the point in winning it?

"I've dreamed of winning it since I was six years old - that's how long I've been playing the game - so there was no way it was going to burden me. It was only going to inspire me and lead me to bigger and better things.

"I do understand how it can be a big pressure for people. I've found it tough this year to prepare for certain events because of the expectations of being a good ambassador as a world champion.

"I've made a conscious effort to try and play in everything. It's good to have a world champion at each event. I felt a duty to make sure I was that person.

"I feel like I've managed to juggle that really well and I'm quite proud of the season I've had. Winning becomes a habit and it's a great feeling to keep winning."