In a remarkable display of skill, former world champion Kyren Wilson has triumphed over China's Si Jiahui with a score of 6-2, propelling himself into the quarter-finals of the Masters tournament. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Wilson, who had faced disappointment just weeks earlier at the UK Championship.
Last month in York, Wilson's performance was marred by the use of a damaged cue that had been temporarily replaced. Following a heart-wrenching 6-4 defeat to Elliot Slessor, he expressed his emotional turmoil and admitted that he had come dangerously close to experiencing a mental breakdown. "I felt utterly lost," he confessed. "When I missed the pink in the first frame, it was as if I wanted the world to swallow me whole. It’s been a nightmare; despite my efforts, I knew I couldn’t win."
However, turning a new leaf, Wilson discovered a cue that he has been using for the past month, which brought back his confidence and joy at Alexandra Palace. In frame two of the match against Si, Wilson showcased his exceptional talent by potting 10 reds and 10 blacks, although his pursuit of a maximum break fell short, ending at 80.
The match itself was an exciting contest, with Si, a former semi-finalist at the World Championship, initially trailing 3-2. But Wilson surged ahead, clinching three consecutive frames to secure his victory. He achieved his 545th career century in frame seven with an impressive break of 101, featuring a daring no-look shot on the black ball. He sealed his triumph with another century, scoring 105, further solidifying his dominance in the match.
Interestingly, this 6-2 victory is part of a peculiar trend at this year's Masters tournament, where all five matches thus far have ended with the same scoreline.
The recent months have indeed been challenging for Wilson after the cue he famously used to win the world title in May 2024 was severely damaged during refurbishment—an unforeseen incident that he described as a "freak accident totally out of my control". He expressed how it felt to lose the very cue that had helped him conquer the snooker world.
Reflecting on the pressurized situation leading to his UK Championship exit, Wilson noted: "I reached a boiling point, feeling as though I had let everyone down. After that game, I did have a moment of frustration, but I’ve moved past it now. The new cue I’ve been using since the Scottish Open feels great, and I'm really happy with it."
As he looks ahead to the next round, where he will face either Neil Robertson from Australia or England's Chris Wakelin, Wilson shared his optimism: "When you step onto the table without confidence in your equipment, it’s an uphill battle. This new cue offers more power and whip, and I've been working on mastering its control for a month now."
Meanwhile, Si, only 23 years old, contributed to the thrilling match with a break of 97 in frame three; however, he was unable to advance to the quarter-finals alongside fellow countrymen Wu Yize, Xiao Guodong, and Zhao Xintong.
