I beat Stephen Hendry in his prime, there is only one man in snooker who frightens Judd Trump
Alan McManus knows what it takes to cause an upset against one of the greats after he shocked the King of the Crucible at the Masters in 1994
Alan McManus believes Kyren Wilson is the only player who scares world number one Judd Trump.
The top seed and reigning world champion meet in the final of the Players Championship in Telford, with the start of action at the Crucible just a month away.
Both players are enjoying glittering campaigns, with Trump making snooker history as the first player to earn more than £1m in prize-money before Christmas. Whilst Wilson has lifted three ranking crowns since becoming world champion 11 months ago.
And McManus, who caused a huge shock when he defeated Stephen Hendry in the final of the Masters in 1994, reckons Warrior Wilson is the only player who worries Ace in the Pack Trump.
Speaking on ITV, he said: "Judd said I’ve probably been the best player, not definitely been the best player. That’s quite telling. It’s almost a backhanded compliment to Kyren Wilson, because he knows that Kyren is hot on his heels and wants the big titles that Judd has gathered.
"Judd has all the baubles on the tree, but Kyren has the one at the top. I like the way that Kyren, since becoming champion almost a year ago, has elevated his game to a new level. Judd did it six years ago.
"Kyren is the only guy on the tour right now who can properly put the frighteners on Judd Trump, and that is saying something.
"Neil Robertson and people like that can do it in a slightly different way, but Judd knows that Kyren has the artillery to take him down. Like he did in Belfast (at the Northern Ireland Open)."
That praise of Wilson was echoed by fellow pundit Ken Doherty, with the 1997 world champion adding: "I love the way he’s been playing, he’s won the world championship and carried it with such authority. He loves every minute of being a world champion, loves entertaining the crowd and is a great ambassador with the desire to win more trophies and stay at the top."
Trump meanwhile believes that his rivalry with Wilson is bringing his game to new heights. He said: "I think with the start to the season I had it was very easy to take it for granted. When you have a spell of four or five tournaments where you don’t reach the final it sinks in how hard the game is.
"A couple of times over the last five or six seasons I’ve felt like I’ve been the best player and I’ve not had a person there to push me to my absolute limits. This season has been different for me.
"It’s very different for snooker to have the top two players in the world to meet so often in a final. That shows how well we’re playing and the level we’re playing at.
"It’s enjoyable for both of us I think, and it’s something that could maybe elevate our level to the next step."