CHEEKY Kyren Wilson says he has no regrets over missing a “silly no-look” black-ball shot which saw him fail to achieve a match-century record.
The former world snooker champion came from 3-1 down to beat Chinese world No.15 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.
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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.
I tried to have a bit of fun with the no-look blacks.”
Kyren Wilson
“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.”
No.3 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.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
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 10 years old – spent most of his time in his chair and only recorded 52 points in reply over six frames.
