Exclusive: Kyren Wilson Pays Emotional Tribute to Old Friend After German Masters Triumph

Kyren Wilson paid tribute to former manager Brandon Parker after winning a second German Masters crown.

The unique event at the iconic Tempodrom was the brainchild of Parker, who sadly passed away in 2020. The trophy is now rightfully named in his honour. 

World champion Wilson had the packed house of 2,500 strong on their feet clapping to Dario G’s Sunchyme as he entered the arena for the evening session of his Berlin belter with Barry Hawkins.

The world No.2 needed all of the tools at his disposal to pip the UK Championship runner-up 10-9 in a gripping contest on Sunday night. 

“I have brilliant memories of Brandon and I feel like that's what inspired me to go out there in the evening with a new walk on song,” Wilson told SportsBoom.com. 

“I felt like it was absolutely unbelievable in there. I had the crowd bouncing...2,500 people in there all clapping simultaneously.” 

“One thing Brandon said to me when I played Dave Gilbert in the final in 2019 stuck with me. When Dave came out to Insomnia the crowd went absolutely wild. He always said 'lets get good walk on songs to rival that' and I think he would have loved that one.”

“Obviously he had a big impact on my career and unfortunately the year I got to the World Championship final during Covid, Brandon sadly passed just before that.” 

“I was gutted that he never got to see me in the world final. He helped in his own way, installing little bits, the odd percentage in getting me to that point.” 

“Every time I come to Germany, somebody talks to me about him, just say, what a miss he is, we miss his demeanour around the venue, around Berlin.” 

“Just before going out for my first match, Rolf sat next to me, he is mentioning the Brandon Parker Trophy, and it hits home that if it wasn’t for that man, we wouldn’t be here in this amazing tournament. So certainly it hits home and it’s nice that he is remembered.”

WINNING THE WORLDS A WEIGHT OFF HIS SHOULDERS

Wilson achieved his boyhood dream of becoming world champion when he conquered the Crucible in May.

Lifting the famous trophy has certainly helped raise his game to new heights, and Wilson is enjoying one of the best seasons since becoming a first-time world champion with victory in Germany his third ranking crown of the campaign as he gears up towards his bid to break the Crucible Curse.

Judd Trump won a record six ranking titles in the 2020/21 season, whilst Stephen Hendry pocketed five ranking events and the Masters after winning the first of seven Crucible titles in 1989.

When asked when the key ingredient was, Wilson added: “The inner belief. It’s just that inner belief.”

“I’ve got that burden off my back of being a potential world champion. It’s all well and good people saying you can do it, but until you have done it you’ve got so much pressure on your shoulders.”

“Now that’s gone, I’m just embracing life and embracing my career and I’m loving being a snooker player.”