Kyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson narrowly avoided a massive shock defeat in the International Championship qualifying round as he came from 5-2 down to beat world number 89 Leone Crowley 6-5.
Former World Champion Wilson survived a tense deciding frame and booked his place in the final stages of the £825,000 world ranking event in Nanjing.
Ireland’s Crowley looked favourite to score the biggest win of his career when he took five of the first seven frames with a top run of 94, though Wilson did make the highest break of the event so far with a superb 142 in the third. Crowley then had chances in each of the last four frames but was unable to get over the line.
Trailing 53-35 in the decider, Crowley attempted a difficult thin cut on the final yellow to a baulk corner, but it stayed in the jaws and a relieved Wilson was able to add the points he needed.
China’s Huang Jiahao top scored with 103 as he came from 5-3 down to edge out Jimmy Robertson 6-5, while Barry Hawkins eased to a 6-0 whitewash of Oliver Sykes with a top run of 85. Gao Yang won a thrilling tussle against Jordan Brown 6-5, making breaks of 73, 125, 98, 105, 83 and 51, and taking the decider by potting the last pink and black.
Yao Pengcheng maintained his impressive form in qualifiers this season as he beat Elliot Slessor 6-2 with a top break of 83, while Stephen Maguire made a crucial break of 73 in the deciding frame to beat Mateusz Baranowski 6-5. Zhang Anda, who won this title in 2023, saw off Artemijs Zizins 6-0 with a top break of 72.
ROUND ONE RESULTS
Huang Jiahao (Chn) bt Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 6-5
Barry Hawkins (Eng) bt Oliver Sykes (Eng) 6-0
Robbie Williams (Eng) bt Gong Chenzhi (Chn) 6-2
Yao Pengcheng (Chn) bt Elliot Slessor (Eng) 6-2
Lei Peifan (Chn) bt Iulian Boiko (Ukr) 6-1
Zhang Anda (Chn) bt Artemus Zizins (Lat) 6-0
Stephen Maguire (Sco) bt Mateusz Baranowski (Pol) 6-5
Ben Woollaston (Eng) bt Sea O’Sullivan (Eng) 6-2
Stuart Bingham (Eng) bt Alfie Burden (Eng) 6-1
Liam Highfield (Eng) bt Ben Mertens (Ger) 6-3
Gao Yang (Chn) bt Jordan Brown (Eng) 6-5
Oliver Lines (Eng) bt Connor Benzey (Eng) 6-0
Ryan Day (Wal) bt Liam Graham (Sco) 6-4
Kyren Wilson (Eng) bt Loen Crowley (Ire) 6-5
Neil Robertson (Aus) bt Alexander Ursenbacher (Sui) 6-0
Rocky Walden (Eng) bt Paul Norris (Eng) 6-1
Jak Jones (Wal) bt Liam Pullen (Eng) 6-3
David Grace (Eng) bt Tom Ford (Eng) 6-5
Mina Awad (Egy) bt Zak Surety (Eng) 6-1
Louis Heathcote (Eng) bt Joshua Thomond (Eng) 6-3
Jimmy White (Eng) bt Matthew Stevens (Wal) 6-5
