Former snooker world champion Kyren Wilson misses out on moment of history by trying ‘silly' no-look shot
The former world snooker champion came from 3-1 down to beat Chinese world No15 Si Jiahui 6-5 in a final-frame decider in round two of the Shanghai Masters.
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It was a high-scoring, high-quality affair as the Warrior, 33, hit breaks of 120, 114 and 114 while Si, 23, notched in 124, 139 and, in the penultimate frame, a 127.
Six centuries is the highest number seen in a professional match which is the best-of-11 frames.
It had happened twice before – the first time was Judd Trump versus Neil Robertson in the Masters 2016 quarter-finals.
And the other occasion involved Australian Robertson against Leicester's Mark Selby in the semifinals of the 2020 Champion of Champions.
Unknowingly, Wilson had the chance to score the seventh of this clash in frame 11 and rewrite the history books.
He was on 97 and about to sink the final black off its spot as the crowd at the Luwan Gymnasium hollered in the background.
Yet instead of rolling it as he had done countless times in practice and matches, the Kettering cueist turned his head sideward and played an exhibition shot.
It was his way of entertaining the fans and some laughed as he went for the audacious attempt, which he missed badly.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 - John Spencer
1970 - Ray Reardon
1971 - John Spencer
1972 - Alex Higgins
1973 - Ray Reardon (2)
1974 - Ray Reardon (3)
1975 - Ray Reardon (4)
1976 - Ray Reardon (5)
1977 - John Spencer (2)
1978 - Ray Reardon (6)
1979 - Terry Griffiths
1980 - Cliff Thorburn
1981 - Steve Davis
1982 - Alex Higgins (2)
1983 - Steve Davis (2)
1984 - Steve Davis (3)
1985 - Dennis Taylor
1986 - Joe Johnson
1987 - Steve Davis (4)
1988 - Steve Davis (5)
1989 - Steve Davis (6)
1990 - Stephen Hendry
1991 - John Parrott
1992 - Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 - Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 - Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 - Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 - Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 - Ken Doherty
1998 - John Higgins
1999 - Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 - Mark Williams
2001 - Ronnie O'Sullivan
2002 - Peter Ebdon
2003 - Mark Williams (2)
2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)
2005 - Shaun Murphy
2006 - Graeme Dott
2007 - John Higgins (2)
2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)
2009 - John Higgins (3)
2010 - Neil Robertson
2011 - John Higgins (4)
2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)
2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)
2014 - Mark Selby
2015 - Stuart Bingham
2016 - Mark Selby (2)
2017 - Mark Selby (3)
2018 - Mark Williams (3)
2019 - Judd Trump
2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6)
2021 - Mark Selby (4)
2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7)
2023 - Luca Brecel
2024 - Kyren Wilson
2025 - Zhao Xintong
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan
6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 - Alex Higgins
But he was told afterwards that had it gone in, it would have set a new high for a match of that duration.
In response, Wilson replied: 'Oh, no! Oh, really! Yeah, I did the silly no-look thing.
'Especially in China, I feel like it's blowing up here. A lot of it is about doing things differently to other players.
'So, you have got to have a little bit of fun. I tried to have a bit of fun with the no-look blacks.
'The crowd really appreciated that sort of thing. They like to see a little bit of character from the players.
'Disappointed that it has not broken the record because I didn't know that. But an amazing game to be involved in.
'Nearly every frame had a break over 70 or 80. It was crazy. Just so happy I have managed to win.'
Asked if he would have done anything differently had he known about the seventh century prospect, Wilson said: 'No chance. No chance.
'I still would do it. It's about doing things a little bit differently.
"We are stepping into a modern era in snooker.
'It's nice to see someone do something a little bit different.
'Up until the deciding frame or frame before, Si missed one ball and that was in the first frame, which you can forgive a player for doing that.
'After that, he was relentless. Some of the balls he knocks in are frightening. It puts the frighteners on you. Really pleased I have let the hard work shine through.'
No3 seed Wilson – who, 12 months ago, lost his opener in Shanghai 6-0 to Zhou Yuelong – will now face either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals.
Four-time world champion Selby, 42, opened his season by crushing Shaun Murphy 6-0 with breaks of 66, 52, 115, 81, 73 and a closing 137.
The Magician – who first played Selby when they were both ten years old – spent most of his time in his chair and only recorded 52 points in reply over six frames.
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