by The defending champion Kyren Wilson crashed in the first round of the World Snooker Championship and lost around 10: 9 against the Chinese debutant Lei Peifan as a “crucible curse”.
In a match of strong impulse fluctuations, Wilson lost seven frames in a row to become the 20th crucible champion that cannot defend his title.
No first winner has been able to maintain the world crown since the tournament in 1977 in Sheffield’s Crucible Theater.
Lei, one of 10 Chinese players in this year’s draw, looked down and out at 6-2.
But he organized a breathtaking relaxation, including a run of six consecutive breaks of the half -century, to draw the edge of the victory on Saturday on Saturday.
The 21-year-old then had to withstand a Wilson comeback before delivering a break of 66 under intensive pressure in the decidger to send out the defending champion.
“Obviously it is really difficult to take,” said 33-year-old Wilson. “I have such a strong record in the melting pot and I wasn’t near my best, but it still took 10: 9 to beat myself.
“It was a very long season and I did so much. I’ve never been so much stretched in my whole life, but I am proud of the way I dealt with it and I am proud of the success I had too.”
Wilson, who won four rank this season, had expressed the trust that he would be the man who would put the 48-year-old curse to bed.
He had all the control against Lei when he led 6-2, but the Scottish open champion roared back and led 9: 6.
The Englishman Wilson, number two in the world, stopped the rot with a defiant release of 106 and stopped the determination, but fell at the last hurdle.
“It feels fantastic,” said Lei. “The Scottish Open was my first title and this was my crucible debut- both moments are something very special for me. The feelings were just as intense.”
The world number 39, which had to come through qualifying, will compete in the past 16 years Zhao Xintong or Jak Jones.
JW/PI
