Kyren Wilson close to ‘mental breakdown’ in UK Championship defeat in York

Wilson said his cue and the table were “awful” in the defeat by Slessor.

The cue Wilson used to win the world title was damaged while being refurbished at the start of this season.

“I want to smash the place up. I am so angry at what has happened,” he said on Tuesday.

“It’s been a freak accident that was totally out of my control that has ruined the cue that I felt like I was conquering the world with.

“I don’t know where to look next.

“I have had different cue makers. I was at a cue manufacturer last night trying to sort something out.

“I was changing ferrules, changing tips. I must have picked up six yesterday. How can you go and win a match like that?”

Discussing the table, he said: “It was just guesswork.

“When you don’t know where the balls are going to go, especially on tight pockets and unplayable conditions, it’s just a recipe for disaster.”

Slessor, who will play 2024 runner-up and fellow Englishman Barry Hawkins in the last 16, said: “I found it tight and thought the cloth had minimal grip, but it’s had a lot of games on it.”

Six-time world champion Steve Davis said it was a “bad day in the office” for Wilson.

“The sheen goes off the cloth and it can be a difficult session to play,” he said. “It can sometimes drag the level down.”