Wilson's experience tells as he punishes teenage debutant Moody to progress at World Snooker Championship

Champion here two years ago, world number two Wilson won seven consecutive frames from 7-3 down to deny teenage debutant Moody in the opening round and set up a last 16 showdown with Mark Allen.

Yorkshire cueist Moody - only 19-years-old and in his third season as a professional - won two qualifying round matches at the English Institute of Sport earlier this month to reach the main draw of snooker’s flagship event for the first time.

The first British teenager to play at the hallowed Crucible venue since Judd Trump in 2007, Moody impressed on the biggest day of his snooker life during the opening morning session.

A break of 84 in frame one helped him settle down before he doubled that lead, and then crafted a 91 for 3-0.

World number two Wilson - who lost on the opening day of last year’s world championship as the title holder - took frames either side of the mid-session interval - but Moody then produced another three-frame winning streak, this time highlighted with efforts of 110, 55 and 101.

Perhaps crucially, though, Wilson deposited the final frame of the session with a 77 - his first half-century of the tie - to stay in touch.

On resumption several hours later, former World Snooker Federation Junior Champion Moody re-established a four-frame buffer, and was on the cusp of going 8-3 up before missing the final red along the top cushion that would have left his higher-ranked opponent needing penalty points.

Wilson potted the final red with the black and all the colours to force a re-spotted black, which he won. It would be a huge turning point, and the catalyst for The Warrior’s big turnaround.

Frame 12 went his way with the aid of a 63, before he closed the gap to just one at 7-6 down. After their final mid-session break, Moody regrouped, fashioning a 68 to leave his peer requiring three snookers. But Wilson battled back, getting the penalty points he required and going on to level at 7-7 in what was a real sickener for the youngster.

The wheels fell off for Moody, scoring just ten points across the next two frames as he went 9-7 down, although he did have one last burst in frame 17, but when on a counter clearance, he took on a very dangerous final black along the top cushion which he missed and left near the pocket for Wilson to slot home.

The dramatic and quick way that match transpired will sting for Moody - who was trying to be the youngest winner of a Crucible match since Ronnie O’Sullivan in 1995 - but he showed what a bright future he could have in this sport after his double century-making heroics from the first session.

On his 12th Crucible outing, 34-year-old Wilson now faces former world number one Allen in what is a repeat of the 2018 Masters final that the Northern Irishman won.

However, Wilson has won both of their previous World Snooker Championship meetings in 2016 and 2018. Their latest encounter is scheduled to take place across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week.

Victory for Wilson continues a 100% success rate for the seeded players at this year’s Championship, so far. From the eight completed matches, all eight top 16 stars have advanced, while Wu Yize (8-1 up on Lei Peifan) is only two frames away from progressing, and Shaun Murphy (5-4 up) holds a slender first session advantage over Fan Zhengyi.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.