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Stephen Hendry and Kyren Wilson differences highlighted as German Masters pundit says 'Snooker has changed'

Kyren Wilson of England chalks his cue during day eight of the Johnstone's Paint Masters 2025 at Alexandra Palace on January 19, 2025 in London, England
-Credit:Getty Images


German Masters pundit Neal Foulds reckons snooker's top stars are maturing later.

World champion Kyren Wilson hit the headlines after an age jibe at Masters winner Shaun Murphy following his Alexandra Palace success, with Wilson joking: "No disrespect to Shaun but he's turned into an old man now, so he needs this more than me. I'm 33-years-old and coming into my prime, I'm having an amazing season. Runner-up obviously isn't what I want to be, but I've got a tournament in Berlin next week so I'll go and smash it in Germany."

However Eurosport commentator Foulds, speaking during Wilson's first round victory against Hong Kong's Ka Wai Cheung in Berlin, was quick to highlight that 33-year-old Wilson would previously have been considered a veteran in the sport - with Scots great Stephen Hendry winning six of his seven world championships before he turned 30.

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Former world No.3 Foulds said: "I think that’s one way that the game has changed. You would argue that, at 33, he’s one of the younger of the leading players. I’m not saying that he’s a young player, but when you think so many of the leading players in the game now are older than that.

"Shaun Murphy was 42 when he won the Masters last week. When you think back to Stephen Hendry’s career, by the time he got to Kyren's age he’d done all his winning. All of it was in his 20s for the great Stephen Hendry. On that basis the game might’ve changed." Wilson meanwhile was given a scare on the table by the 25-year-old from Hong Kong in Berlin, eventually winning 5-3.

Scots hero John Higgins also avoided an upset, as the Wizard of Wishaw came out on top 5-3 against Mark Higgins in his first round clash - ensuring he didn't suffer an opening match exit as he had at the Masters earlier in the month.