Gary Wilson responds to Ronnie O’Sullivan praise: ‘I’m on a similar wavelength’

Gary Wilson has returned the compliments to Ronnie O’Sullivan, saying the pair are on the same wavelength after the Rocket was full of praise for the Tyneside Terror at the recent Tour Championship.

O’Sullivan beat Wilson in the semi-finals in Manchester in a really good contest which finished 10-7 in the world number one’s favour.

The Rocket was wholesome in his praise for his opponent, saying they have become good pals, hailing his character and ability on the table.

‘Me and Gary have become good friends,’ O’Sullivan told WST. ‘I really like Gary, he’s an honest bloke. How you see him in interviews is how he is in real life. I love him, I think he’s a great lad and it’s great to see him winning tournament.

‘He loves the game, he loves the game that much that he gets frustrated with it sometimes. He’s a bit like me, thinking, “why can’t I play well like 70 or 80 %of the time?”

‘I think he’s learning now that you can’t always play well. Just give yourself a chance. Having that patience is key, someone like Gary can put a burst on for three or four frames and break the back of a match, so he’s learning that he’s got that armoury in his game. I rate him highly.’

Wilson agrees there are similarities in the way they see the game, but it is more their very normal chats off the table that mean they get on.

‘It was very nice to hear what Ronnie said about me,’ Wilson told Sporting Life. ‘Likewise, I think he’s a great guy. We’ve become more mates recently, yeah he’s a nice bloke, I’m always happy to see him. I sort of feel like I’m on a similar wavelength to him.

‘Obviously he’s the greatest player that has ever lived as well. But I don’t really see him that way if you know what I mean. I don’t know if I’m right or wrong here, but maybe he likes me because I am just up front, real and honest.

‘He probably gets the impression I don’t care how good he is at snooker or anything like that. I’m just having a laugh with him and a chat with him as with any old human being.

‘It’s a very amicable kind of relationship where we get on well and I think I understand where he’s coming from a lot.’

Wilson and O’Sullivan are in the same quarter of the draw for the World Championship and could meet in the last eight, with the seeded players waiting to hear who they will play in round one when the draw is made on Thursday morning.

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