China’s Lei Peifan stuns reigning snooker world champion Kyren Wilson on Crucible debut
Lei causes huge shock with 10-9 victory in first-round match as he comes back from 6-2 behind
Chinese debutant Lei Peifan caused a huge shock on the first day of the World Snooker Championship as he stunned defending champion Kyren Wilson 10-9 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
Wilson’s first-round exit means that the “Crucible Curse” has struck again, with no first-time winner having been able to retain their world crown since the tournament moved to the venue in 1977.
World No 39 Lei, one of a record 10 Chinese players in this year’s draw, looked down and out early on. England’s Wilson, who had already won four titles this season, reeled off six frames in a row to lead 6-2 in the best-of-19 frame duel.
But the ice-cool Lei, who had to come through qualifying, stormed back in astonishing fashion to win seven frames in succession late on Saturday local time as Wilson lost his way.
World No 2 Wilson finally stopped the rot and levelled for 9-9 to set up a decider, but Lei took his chance in the final frame, a composed break of 66 completing one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.