Kyren Wilson exits World Snooker Championship in dramatic first-round clash vs debutant

Kyren Wilson has crashed out of the World Snooker Championship in the first round after a shock 10-9 defeat against debuting player Lei Peifan. The reigning champion stormed into a 6-2 lead but staged an astonishing collapse at the Crucible, which involved Peifan winning seven consecutive frames to move 9-6 ahead.

Wilson launched a fightback of his own to leave his 21-year-old opponent sweating, winning three on the trot to make it 9-9 and force a decider. But the world No. 2 couldn't complete the rescue mission as Peifan clinched a famous victory with an 80 break. Wilson has become the latest victim of the Crucible curse, which refers to no first-time champion retaining the title since the tournament moved to the Sheffield venue in 1977.

The fallen champion is now the 20th who has failed to keep hold of their crown a year later, with just Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) managing to reach a second successive final.

Wilson has suffered the same fate as 2024's defending winner, Luca Brecel, who lost against qualifier David Gilbert in the first round.

Peifan will dream of becoming China's maiden snooker world champion after writing one of the headlines of the tournament on day one.

But for Wilson, there will be severe disappointment after arriving at the Crucible as one of the favourites for glory.

The Englishman had already won four ranking events this season, two more than any other player, but now enters the history books for the wrong reasons.

Wilson and Brecel are among six first-time champions to fall at the first hurdle in their world title defences, following Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Graeme Dott and Neil Robertson.

"I'm devastated. Devastated. I gave it my all. I had everything go against me. Every credit to Lei. He potted some incredible shots," a downbeat Wilson explained after his defeat.

"The table let me down in the decider. I played a couple of slow-rolling safety shots, but they drifted a mile.

"In his debut, Lei has held himself together incredibly well, and I wish him all the best for the tournament.

"I was so nervous this morning. I felt awful. I wanted to get round one out of the way. It has been very challenging to prepare for a world championship this year.

"I sympathise with previous world champions. Your preparation takes a hit with a lot of media stuff.

"I'm gutted. It feels like the season is a bit of a waste. We go on and look on to bigger and better things."