Kettering's Kyren overcomes Chen and a nosebleed to advance at Welsh Open

Kyren Wilson is confident of adding the Welsh Open to his list of ranking titles this week - providing he can find a way out of nosebleed territory.

The world No.5 was a beaten finalist in this competition last season and his attempts to go one better got underway with a 4-2 victory over Chen Zifan at Celtic Manor late on Tuesday evening.

Wilson sealed the deal with a century break but admitted his build-up had been hampered by a series of nosebleeds caused by Covid testing.

“One started literally as I was about to go out, which wasn’t ideal,” he said.

“It doesn’t feel great when you’re out there. You’re getting down to the table, your head’s going down and you’re half expecting it to go while you’re playing.

“It wouldn’t have looked pleasant on the table – especially in a TV game. It was a bit annoying but it’s just one of those unfortunate things.

“The way I was feeling, I’m quite pleased to get over the line in the end. It was one of those matches just to get the job done. It was never going to be pretty - but it’s always nice to end with a century.”

The Kettering potter has been relentless in the early rounds of ranking tournaments this season, only twice failing to make it to the last eight, but has gone on to fall at the quarter-final stage on five occasions.

Last week’s victories over Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams, which booked Wilson’s place in the Championship League winners’ group, ensured the World Championship runner-up arrived in Newport as one of the form players on the circuit and he believes he can extend his stay until the weekend.

“I came here full of confidence and I hope I can keep bringing that out,” he said.

“I’ve always tinkered with my technique and messed around with things before. Now I know exactly what I’m doing, what I’m going to do and what I can do.

“When that’s all in place, you can produce a result even when you’re not at your best as you can rely on yourself.”

This is the first event of the season to have involved a commute longer than 45 minutes for Wilson, who has enjoyed short trips to snooker’s new home in Milton Keynes for each ranking tournament to date.

Celtic Manor’s 2010 Ryder Cup-hosting golf course is out of bounds, denying the Northamptonshire ace the chance to build on the lessons he began pre-lockdown, but the sight of a new venue has been welcome.

“It’s a cool set-up,” he said. “It’s quaint, which I quite like, and we were all due a change of scene.

“Milton Keynes has been a home from home but it’s been nice to get in the car and feel like you’re actually travelling somewhere.”

Wilson takes on Alan McManus, who he has never lost to in four previous meetings, in tonight's (Wednesday) evening session with a place in the third round at stake.

Watch the Welsh Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport app.