Stan Moody admitted he was “gutted” after squandering the chance to stun world No.2 Kyren Wilson at the World Snooker Championship despite leading 6-2 and 7-3. After giving himself a three-frame lead for the evening session, Moody won the first frame and had an opportunity to go 8-3 in front at the Crucible against the 2024 world champion. But he ultimately lost seven frames in a row to crash out in the first round on his debut.
The 19-year-old was the first British teenager to qualify for the World Championship since Judd Trump in 2007. And he said pre-tournament that he was here to break Stephen Hendry’s record and become the youngest world champion in history. The legendary Scot achieved the feat at 21 back in 1990. But after the heartbreaking nature of his exit, Moody told the BBC: “I just lost too many bad frames. Had the match won at 7-3, missed the red to go 8-3. Then it turned around when I lost the frame with three snookers. I’m gutted.”
Asked if he was overawed by the occasion, Moody replied: “No, not really. I felt comfortable out there. To lose bad frames like that, it hurts. I’ll go away and practice and come back stronger.
“It’s completely different, a good experience so hopefully I’m back here next year. I’ll just try to learn what shots to play at the right time and try to miss less balls!”
Winner Wilson showed why his nickname is The Warrior as he fought back in impressive style. And he was full of praise for his young opponent, saying to the Beeb: “Stan started so, so well. He started like a train against me. Really impressed. It reminded me of my debut. I got off to a flyer against Ricky Walden then I was like a rabbit in the headlights and the adrenaline just left me.
“I kind of knew the frame to go 6-3 was a big one. I felt going into tonight, he might lack that adrenaline. I won two big momentum swingers. When I cleared up, the re-spot to go 7-4. I potted an unbelievable yellow, the green to swing it round, the brown, then a long black.”
“And then I needed three snookers at 7-6 down. I should be going 8-6 behind. Played some real snookers and made a dogged clearance. They’re the ones that hurt your opponent.”
Wilson’s victory means half of the next round is already set. Three last-16 matches are already confirmed – Wilson vs Mark Allen, defending Crucible champion Zhao Xintong vs Ding Junhui in an all-Chinese contest and Barry Hawkins against three-time world champion Mark Williams.
Wilson knows that if he sees off the challenge of Northern Irishman Allen, he will face the winner of Hawkins vs Williams. He said of facing Allen in his next match: “I think we’re in very similar positions. I think he’s having cue issues. He’s had a few tough results this year, maybe lacking a little bit of confidence. But we’re both very experienced. We both know what it takes to win big tournaments. Hopefully it’ll be a good game.”