New world champion Kyren Wilson whitewashed in Shanghai Masters opener

17/07/2024 16:09

Kyren Wilson had a nightmare of a contest with Zhou Yuelong (Picture: Getty Images)

Kyren Wilson had a game to forget in his first big outing as world champion, suffering a 6-0 whitewash at the hands of Zhou Yuelong in the Shanghai Masters.

The Warrior was the standout player at the Crucible this year and came away with the World Championship title after beating Jak Jones in the final back in May/

However, it has been a bad start to the new campaign with a bit of a disaster in his opener at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old certainly had chances and was not completely blown away by Zhou – who made breaks of 78, 59 and 83 – but failed to get a frame on the board.

It was Wilson’s first match in the event, while Zhou had already won a tough battle with Barry Hawkins in his opener, but that will be of no consolation to the world champion.

While it is still very early in the new season, the defeat in Shanghai follows an exit at the first stage of the Championship League for Wilson, winning just one of his three matches in the opening group stage of the competition.

For Zhou it is turning out to be a great week at the Shanghai Masters and he will take on Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals after the Magician beat John Higgins 6-3 on Wednesday.

Zhou Yuelong has downed Wilson and Barry Hawkins on his way to the quarters (Picture: Getty Images)

Mark Selby also booked his spot in the last eight with a comfortable 6-1 win over amateur qualifier Cao Jin and he will face Pang Junxu next after he came through an epic struggle with world number one Mark Allen 6-5.

The game started in the afternoon session in Shanghai but had to be dragged off to make way for the evening session and they players returned with Pang 5-4 ahead late at night in China.

The Northern Irishman forced a decider but after both missed chances in a nervy affair it was the 24-year-old Chinese star who came through.

The final two quarter-finals see Ronnie O’Sullivan take on Ding Junhui and Si Jiahui face Judd Trump on an eye-catching Thursday of play in Shanghai.

Shanghai Masters quarter-finals

Thursday 18 July (UK times)
7am
Pang Junxu vs Mark Selby
Shaun Murphy vs Zhou Yuelong
12.30pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Ding Junhui
Si Jiahui vs Judd Trump

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