World Snooker Championship 2025: Kyren Wilson loses to Lei Peifan

Debutant Lei Peifan stunned defending champion Kyren Wilson by fighting back from 6-2 down to triumph 10-9 as the ‘Crucible curse’ struck again in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.

Wilson becomes the 20th player to succumb to the so-called curse, with no first-time winner able to retain the world crown since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.

“It is really hard to take. I gave it my all and Lei came out extremely positive this evening and potted some incredible balls,” Wilson told BBC Sport.

“It really hurts to be honest. As a debutant he held himself together incredibly well and I’d like to wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.

“He seems like quite a cool character. He showed no emotion at all.”

Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.

“It’s obviously been built up into something it’s not, because other players have gone on to win it.

“I’m sure it’ll be broken at some point but unfortunately I won’t be that person,” added Wilson.

The chances of an upset had looked slim heading into Saturday evening, despite Lei winning the final frame of their morning session to trail 6-3.

However, the 21-year-old from China, who had to win two qualifying matches just to reach the televised stages of the tournament, reeled off another six consecutive frames once play resumed.

Lei, who won the Scottish Open in December, knocked in pot after pot as he crafted six half century breaks and scored 544 points during that burst to move on to the cusp of victory.

In contrast Wilson, who has claimed four ranking tournaments this term, looked completely out of sorts and managed a meagre 44 points until he stopped the rot in the 16th frame with his second century break of the match.

The 33-year-old Englishman cleared up to pinch the 17th frame after Lei broke down on 60 and then made a half century of his own to draw level at 9-9.

But the world number 39 held his nerve and sealed a famous victory with a break of 66 in the decider.

“He is a legend, I am so proud I could beat him,” Lei said.

“I didn’t think too much because it was my first time at the Crucible so I just wanted to enjoy it. I was nervous in the decider but I just told myself, ‘try and calm down’.”