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Wilson stages dramatic comeback to deny Moody historic debut win
Defending champion Kyren Wilson fought back from 7-3 down to beat 19-year-old Stan Moody 10-7 in a thrilling World Snooker Championship first-round match at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Monday.
The match
Moody, the youngest British player to debut at the Crucible since Judd Trump in 2007, stormed into a 6-3 lead by the mid-session interval and looked set to become the youngest match winner at the venue since Ronnie O'Sullivan in 1995.
However, Wilson, who claimed his first world title in 2024, produced a stunning turnaround by winning seven consecutive frames, sealing victory with a black-ball finish in the 17th frame after Moody missed a critical red.
Moody's reflections
Ranked 44th in the world, Moody admitted the missed opportunity stung. "I had the match won at 7-3 but then I missed the red to go 8-3 and he won it with three snookers," he said. "I felt comfortable out there, but bad frames like that hurt. I'll come back stronger."
Moody's path to the Crucible was far from smooth. After battling tonsillitis and discharging himself from hospital against medical advice, he defeated China's Jiang Jun 10-9 in a deciding-frame thriller, including a century break, to secure his debut.
Crowd and commentary praise
Moody, the first British teenager to play at the Crucible since Trump, received a rapturous reception from the Sheffield crowd after opening with breaks of 84 and 91. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry lauded his fearless approach: "He's playing with a freedom of 'he doesn't care what he leaves if he misses a pot.'"
Moody extended his lead to 7-3 with two centuries (110 and 101) before Wilson's relentless pressure turned the tide.
Wilson's perspective
"I dug in deeper than deep. It was really difficult at 7-3 down, but you just have to keep going to the well. Stan hasn't got the experience I have, especially here, and I knew the adrenaline would seep out."
Kyren Wilson
Wilson, who will next face Northern Ireland's Mark Allen, praised Moody's impact on the sport: "My kids know his name-he's inspiring them."
Hendry's verdict
Hendry described Moody's collapse as a "vital learning experience." "We've seen enough to know he has a tremendous future," he said. "The Crucible brings elation and torture-he'll learn from this."
Other Crucible results
Four-time champion John Higgins overcame a mid-match slump to beat Ali Carter 10-7, despite leading 4-0 before Carter won five straight frames. "I'm over the moon-I wasn't happy when my name was pulled out against him," Higgins admitted.
Ding Junhui, the 2016 runner-up, cruised past David Gilbert 10-5 and will face 2025 champion Zhao Xintong in an all-Chinese last-16 tie. Shaun Murphy, the 2005 winner, leads Fan Zhengyi 5-4 after a 140 clearance in their session's final frame.
