Kyren Wilson turned the newest sufferer of snooker’s Crucible curse after a shock defeat on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship by the hands of Chinese language sensation Lei Peifan – underlining the assumption many have that this might lastly be the yr China crowns its first champion of the world.
Not since snooker’s most prestigious occasion moved to Sheffield in 1977 has a first-time winner of the occasion gone on to efficiently defend the title. Wilson is now the twentieth man on that record after his defence got here to a shuddering halt inside hours of this yr’s match starting, after the world No 39 produced an impressive comeback victory.
Wilson led Lei 6-3 after the opening session on Saturday however crucially, it was Lei who gained the ultimate body within the morning to make sure the deficit was simply three frames, reasonably than 5. The 21-year-old then gained six successive frames to start out the night session, all with breaks of fifty or extra, to maneuver to the verge of victory.
Wilson returned serve with a clearance of 106 and edged two extra nerve-shredding frames to ship it to a decider. At that stage, all of the momentum appeared to be with the champion. However Lei held his nerve to ship a break of 66 and shut out one of many largest shocks within the Crucible’s latest historical past.
In addition to that, he ensured the curse would proceed for a minimum of one other yr in addition to, extra importantly, elevating hopes even additional that Chinese language snooker could also be on the verge of what it has craved for a while.
The hopes of a nation have largely rested on the shoulders of Ding Junhui for fairly a while, and when 10 Chinese language gamers have been suspended as a part of a match-fixing investigation in 2023, it left the game underneath a darkish cloud. Nonetheless, a report 10 gamers – virtually a 3rd of the draw – from China have certified for this yr’s match.
Such is the unfold all through that draw too, that it appears extremely seemingly that a minimum of two will meet within the quarter-finals. Xiao Guodong led Matthew Selt 7-2 after their opening session. And whereas Lei stole the present and the headlines on the opening day right here, all eyes on Sunday might be on one of many brightest hopes Chinese language snooker has ever seen.
Zhao Xintong was one of many 10 gamers banned in 2023, serving a 20-month suspension for his half within the scandal. However he has been tipped for stardom from a younger age, and has returned to the newbie tour because the expiration of his ban in some type, making a most break and coming by qualifying to achieve the Crucible.
He’s solely the third non-professional to achieve the primary draw. He begins towards final yr’s finalist, Jak Jones, and can now meet Lei within the final 16 if he navigates that activity. Many inside the sport imagine Zhao is greatest positioned to turn out to be China’s first world champion, together with the good Stephen Hendry.
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What the achievement of a Chinese language world champion might carry to snooker comes with nice intrigue. The Crucible was a marvellous sight on Saturday; the historical past seeps from the partitions and the encircling areas are a hive of exercise. Few sports activities are as synonymous with one metropolis fairly like Sheffield is with snooker.
However there isn’t any doubting the Crucible has its limitations, and speak of transferring the world championship isn’t removed from the agenda. With the match’s present deal up in 2027, ought to a Chinese language participant lastly win the sport’s largest prize over the approaching fortnight, who is aware of the place it could lead on, with the match watched by as many as 200 million individuals in China.
Whether or not Lei is the person to do this, or one of many different gamers from China in motion at this match, stays to be seen. However this victory was a press release second so early into proceedings in Sheffield: not only for the continuation of the curse, however the perception that after so lengthy, possibly that is Chinese language snooker’s time.
