Kyren Wilson is down in 44th place on the one-year ranking list but hopes his results will improve rapidly and started the BetVictor Shoot Out with victory over Daniel Wells.
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Five-time ranking event winner Wilson has had a disappointing start to the season by his high standards – the low point coming at the recent UK Championship when he let slip a 5-1 lead against Jamie Clarke, losing 6-5 in the opening round. Wilson needs a run either this week or in next week’s BetVictor Scottish Open to climb into the top 32 of the one-year list and qualify for January’s World Grand Prix.
Today’s tie against Wells in Swansea was in the balance when Wells trailed by just seven points with a minute to go, but he was unlucky to go in-off when potting a red and that proved the key moment as Wilson got his name into the bag for the random draw for the last 64 which will take place on Thursday evening.
“It’s been a strange first half of the season for me,” said the Warrior. “I feel as if my game is there to win tournaments. But that doesn’t mean you have the right to win any matches. I have lost some close games. I fancied the UK – I was flying, it was probably the best I have ever played in practice. I made two 147s in one day, playing at Ding’s academy in Sheffield the day before my first match. So it hurt to lose.
“I’m not missing easy balls, maybe my shot selection hasn’t quite been right. I’m sure it will turn around. I certainly want to be in the World Grand Prix and there are a lot of other big events to look forward to.”
Jimmy White had a chance to beat Zak Surety from 57-21 behind, but his attempted clearance ended when he missed the final blue. Louis Heathcote came from 43-1 down to beat Xiao Guodong with a fantastic break of 44. Heathcote potted the final blue to go two points ahead in the closing seconds before celebrating with the crowd.
Dominic Dale singing. Of course.
Promising tour rookie Liam Pullen beat Yuan Sijun thanks to a run of 43. Michael White, who won this event in 2015, made the highest break of the event so far with a 92 to beat Mohamed Ibrahim.
Shoot Out specialist Dominic Dale made a break of 63 to beat Fan Zhengyi while African champion Mostafa Dorgham edged out Manasawin Phetmalaikul 33-31 in a close finish.
