Big day ahead for trailing Kyren

The Kettering snooker star finds himself behind in his World Championship semi-final
Kyren Wilson trails Anthony McGill after the first session of their World Championship semi-finalKyren Wilson trails Anthony McGill after the first session of their World Championship semi-final
Kyren Wilson trails Anthony McGill after the first session of their World Championship semi-final

Kyren Wilson has a big day ahead of him as he bids to reach his first Betfred World Snooker Championship final.

The Kettering star trails Anthony McGill 6-2 in the semi-finals at the Crucible after a tough first session yesterday (Wednesday) and the best of 33 frames match resumes this morning (10am) with the third session taking place this evening (7pm).

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Wilson captured the headlines after dumping reigning champion Judd Trump out of the tournament with a stunning 13-9 quarter-final triumph.

But the 28-year-old was at McGill’s mercy in the opening session and spent plenty of time in the chair as the Scot made five half-centuries in eight frames.

McGill broke the initial safety deadlock with a fine long red which, followed by a tricky pink into the far corner pocket, laid the foundation for an 83 break to claim the first frame.

Wilson left a long pot from the break-off and the Scot obliged, twice going into the bunch with authority in compiling a classy 78 to go 2-0 up.

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The third frame was a topsy-turvy affair, McGill posting 53 after a puzzling Wilson mistake that saw him completely miss the object ball on an early safety shot.

But McGill missed a red to the right corner and Wilson responded with a first meaningful break of 55 before slipping up with a sloppy positional shot going from yellow to green.

The world number eight blinked first after catching the lip of the middle pocket on a safety, leaving McGill to clear up and go 3-0 in front.

Wilson hit his stride somewhat in the fourth to make 50 and despite snookering himself behind the pink after potting a red, did enough to strike a first blow at 3-1 heading into the mid-session interval.

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After the pause, McGill looked primed to strike at every visit and pounced on poor safety play from Wilson to make 43 and eventually take the frame.

There was more of the same in the sixth. Wilson rattled into the 30s but miscued badly on the high rest and McGill made 69 to claim another and make it 5-1.

It looked like McGill would play poacher extraordinaire again when there was enough value on the table for the Scot to overhaul Wilson’s break of 45.

But the 29-year-old’s first glaring error, a botched blue with all the colours still left on the table, gave Wilson an opening and he capitalised to cut the deficit to four.

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There was no such reprieve for the Englishman as McGill wrapped up the session in style with a fabulous break of 92 to claim a 6-2 overnight advantage.

The winner will face either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Mark Selby in the 35-frame final, played across Saturday and Sunday. O'Sullivan leads 5-3 in that semi-final after the first session last night.

Live snooker returns to Eurosport and the Eurosport app. Watch the World Championship from 31st July – 16th August with analysis from Jimmy White.