Moody, 19, surges ahead of 2024 champion Wilson
English teenager Stan Moody made a hugely impressive debut at the Crucible as he moved into a 6-3 lead in his World Championship first-round match against former winner Kyren Wilson. Moody, 19, needs four more frames to become the youngest player to win a match at the famous Sheffield theatre since a 19-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Dave Harold and Darren Morgan before falling to Stephen Hendry in 1995. Wilson, the 2024 champion, will have to win seven frames in Monday's evening session, which begins at 19:00 BST, if he is to advance.
After getting a great reception from the crowd, Moody, who comes from Halifax, less than 50 miles away from the Crucible, made an instant impact with a break of 84. He then took the next two frames, including a break of 91, to lead 3-0 before Wilson won two frames in a row. However, Moody responded superbly with two centuries in three frames, 110 in frame six and 101 two frames later.
Wilson claimed the final frame of the session to reduce the deficit to three. Moody is 44th in the world rankings and had to win two matches to qualify. On the day before his final qualifying match, last Tuesday, he had been in hospital with tonsillitis.
But Moody discharged himself before playing, going against medical advice, and beat China's Jiang Jun 10-9 thanks to a century in the deciding frame to earn his Crucible spot. Moody hits 110 break to extend two-frame lead against Wilson Moody's performance impressed the snooker greats who were commentating on the match for the BBC. When Moody was 3-0 ahead, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry said: "This has been as impressive a performance from anyone we've seen in this tournament.
It's great to play this way, without thinking of the consequences if you miss. "He is playing with a freedom of he doesn't care what he leaves if he misses a pot. "Do you remember when the game was this easy, it seems a long time for me?