Gary Wilson claims he was starting to feel sick during the first session of his semi-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Tour Championship.
The 38-year-old says he copied his opponent’s approach by throwing caution to the wind after losing four straight frames.
O’Sullivan was the big favourite heading into the clash in Manchester having beaten Wilson in all but one of their previous meetings.
It was Wilson who took an early lead, winning the first two frames in a scrappy start to the match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s opponent Gary Wilson was feeling ‘sick’ during the Tour Championship clash
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O’Sullivan then hit a century in the third before levelling the match up ahead of the mid-session break.
Wilson then took his anger out on his cue after missing a black in the first frame back, with O’Sullivan making him pay by stretching into a 4-2 lead.
It could have been a damaging end to the session but Wilson ensured it would be a fascinating finale on Friday night.
He bounced back to win the last two frames and level it up at 4-4 in the best-of-19 encounter.
Wilson, who has won two ranking events this season, hasn’t been pleased with his cueing in Manchester this week.
Speaking after the session on Friday, he admitted he was lucky the scoreline was as close as it was.
He told ITV: “Yeah I don’t know what to say without being derogatory.
“I’m lucky he’s given us a few chances there because that shouldn’t be 4-4 really.”
After losing four straight frames, Wilson decided to adopt a gung-ho style that O’Sullivan often uses.
He said he was feeling ‘a bit sick’ as the session went on and decided to up the ante.
Wilson added: “It wasn’t really composure it was just start chucking my cue at them now, just caution to the wind, not really bothered.
“Obviously bothered in the sense that I want to play well, I want to do well.
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Gary Wilson faces Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-final of the Tour Championship
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“I’m getting a bit sick, I’m actually getting a bit sick, so I just went out and sort of flung my cue at a few there.
“Played with a bit more speed, tried to play a bit more like [O’Sullivan] I guess, where you’re just sort of floating around and just trying to play quickly and just getting on with it and see what happens.
“I did that in the Scottish [Open] last year and it worked for a little bit and I just needed something because just nothing’s happening cueing-wise.
“So yeah there’s not much more I can say than that. I’m glad it’s 4-4 to be honest.”
Gary Wilson is aiming to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan for just the second time in his career
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Stephen Hendry admitted O’Sullivan was far below his top level during the first session.
The seven-time world champion said: “He certainly wasn’t anywhere near his best.
“Ronnie very rarely doesn’t pot the balls he should pot and he missed a few today and the cue ball wasn’t as tight as normal.
“Look, is he out of even third gear and it’s 4-4? He’s still strong favourite to win this match.”
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