Kyren Wilson became the latest victim of snooker’s Crucible curse after a shock defeat on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship at the hands of Chinese sensation Lei Peifan – underlining the belief many have that this could finally be the year China crowns its first champion of the world.
Not since snooker’s most prestigious event moved to Sheffield in 1977 has a first-time winner of the event gone on to successfully defend the title. Wilson is now the 20th man on that list after his defence came to a shuddering halt within hours of this year’s tournament beginning, after the world No 39 produced a magnificent comeback victory.
Wilson led Lei 6-3 after the opening session on Saturday but crucially, it was Lei who won the final frame in the morning to ensure the deficit was just three frames, rather than five. The 21-year-old then won six successive frames to start the evening session, all with breaks of 50 or more, to move to the verge of victory.
Wilson returned serve with a clearance of 106 and edged two more nerve-shredding frames to send it to a decider. At that stage, all the momentum seemed to be with the champion. But Lei held his nerve to deliver a break of 66 and close out one of the biggest shocks in the Crucible’s recent history.
As well as that, he ensured the curse would continue for at least another year as well as, more importantly, raising hopes even further that Chinese snooker may be on the verge of what it has craved for some time.
The hopes of a nation have largely rested on the shoulders of Ding Junhui for quite some time, and when 10 Chinese players were suspended as part of a match-fixing investigation in 2023, it left the sport under a dark cloud. However, a record 10 players – almost a third of the draw – from China have qualified for this year’s tournament.
Such is the spread throughout that draw too, that it seems incredibly likely that at least two will meet in the quarter-finals. Xiao Guodong led Matthew Selt 7-2 after their opening session. And while Lei stole the show and the headlines on the opening day here, all eyes will be on one of the brightest hopes Chinese snooker has ever seen on Sunday.
Zhao Xintong was one of the 10 players banned in 2023, serving a 20-month suspension for his part in the scandal. But he has been tipped for stardom from a young age, and has returned to the amateur tour since the expiration of his ban in some style, making a maximum break and coming through qualifying to reach the Crucible.
He is only the third non-professional to reach the main draw. He begins against last year’s finalist, Jak Jones, and will now meet Lei in the last 16 if he navigates that task. Many within the sport believe Zhao is best placed to become China’s first world champion, including the great Stephen Hendry.
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What the achievement of a Chinese world champion could bring to snooker comes with great intrigue. The Crucible was a marvellous sight on Saturday; the history seeps from the walls and the surrounding areas are a hive of activity. Few sports are as synonymous with one city quite like Sheffield is with snooker.
But there is no doubting the Crucible has its limitations, and talk of moving the world championship is never far from the agenda. With the tournament’s current deal up in 2027, should a Chinese player finally win the game’s biggest prize over the coming fortnight, who knows where it could lead, with the tournament watched by as many as 200 million people in China.
Whether Lei is the man to do that, or one of the other players from China in action at this tournament, remains to be seen. But this victory was a statement moment so early into proceedings in Sheffield: not just for the continuation of the curse, but the belief that after so long, maybe this is Chinese snooker’s time.
