Kyren Wilson stages dramatic comeback to deny Stan Moody on World Championship debut

Kyren Wilson produced a superb fightback from 6-2 and 7-3 down to defeat 19-year-old Stan Moody 10-7 in the first round of the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on 20 April 2026.

Moody, making his Crucible debut after qualifying through the rounds, began the match in blistering fashion. He compiled two centuries and two further breaks over 80 to grab a 6-3 lead at the mid-session interval. Moody extended his advantage by winning the first frame after the break to lead 7-3, appearing on course to develop into the first teenager to win a World Championship match since Ronnie O’Sullivan in 1995.

However, Wilson responded with seven consecutive frames to turn the match around. The pivotal moment came in the 11th frame when Moody missed a red along the top cushion, allowing Wilson to clear the colours and force a re-spotted black, which he won to reduce the deficit to 7-4. Wilson then continued his surge, taking the next six frames to seal a 10-7 victory.

“Just too many bad frames,” said Moody after the match. “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. I felt comfortable out there, but bad frames like that hurt. But I will arrive back stronger. Hopefully I will be here next year. I just try to learn what shots to play at the right time and to miss less balls.”

Moody, ranked 44th in the world, had been hospitalised with tonsillitis the day before his final qualifying match but discharged himself against medical advice to play. He beat China’s Jiang Jun 10-9 in the decider, compiling a century in the final frame to earn his Crucible spot.

The victory advanced Wilson to the second round of the 2026 World Snooker Championship, where he would face the winner of the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi. Wilson, the 2024 world champion, was seeking to defend his title at the tournament, which ran from 18 April to 4 May 2026 at the Crucible Theatre.

The 2026 World Snooker Championship, officially the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship, featured a total prize fund of £2,395,000, with the winner receiving £500,000. Defending champion Zhao Xintong was aiming to retain the title he won in 2025 by defeating Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.