World Snooker Championship finalist did not even know what he was playing to in biggest game of tournament

KYREN WILSON forgot it was first to 17 frames as he made a second Crucible final.

But the Warrior credited lots of salmon and deep sleep for his 17-11 victory over David Gilbert.

Wilson, 32, will start as favourite to lift a maiden title over two days this Bank Holiday Weekend.

He has been working with a solution hypnotherapist – which helps to curb anxiety, depression and insomnia – to ensure he has not been Sleepless in Sheffield this fortnight.

The Kettering potter said: “I didn’t even know what it was first to. I just kept playing.

“I sat in my chair at 16 frames up, I looked at the scoreboard and saw it was best of 33 frames. I thought: ‘How many is that to win?’

“Until then, I didn’t really know. You lose what day it is. I don’t even know what day it is now.

“I’ve had a lot of people help me. I’ve worked with a solution hypnotherapist. We started working before the Worlds.

“He has been really helping me with my sleep, knocking me out basically. I slept eight-and-a-half hours last night.

“God help me when I get home and have to deal with my two kids!

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“It’s just like Groundhog Day. You have to keep doing the right things, keep waking up at the right times, eating the right food.

“I may end up growing gills given the amount of salmon I have been eating.”

Qualifier Gilbert, 42, banks £100,000 for his run to the one-table set-up for the first time since 2019.

The Angry Farmer questioned if there was any needle from his opponent following a cursory handshake at the end of frame 28.

But Wilson denied there was any issue, saying: “I have no problem with Dave at all. I respect Dave, he’s a classy cueist.

“I was always taught to give a nice firm handshake. It shows confidence.”

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