Wilson's Crucible campaign finally set to get under way

Kettering's snooker ace has had to wait to get into action at the World Championship
Kyren WilsonKyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson

Kyren Wilson will finally get his Betfred World Championship campaign under way in Sheffield this weekend.

The Kettering snooker star had been due to face Anthony Hamilton in the first round at the Crucible late last week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Hamilton withdrew from the event for medical reasons as he suffers from chronic asthma.

That meant world number eight Wilson received a bye into the last 16 where he will meet Martin Gould, secured his spot after he completed a highly impressive 10-3 win over number nine seed Stephen Maguire on Wednesday night.

And Gould, who came through the qualifiers to reach the Crucible, is looking forward to his next test against the Kettering man.

“I loved it out there,” Gould said.

“I haven’t enjoyed snooker for the last couple of years but I played really well in the first session, it just felt like a practice match.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My form has been there waiting to come out, and in the first session everything came together, it was one of the best matches I have played.

“Stephen brings the best out of me because I always know I have to play well to beat him.

“I don’t want the run to end here. Kyren will be a tough opponent and I’ll look forward to that challenge.”

Wilson’s second-round match will see two sessions played tomorrow (Saturday), one in the morning and one in the evening, and it will then be played to a finish in Sunday’s afternoon session.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The tournament is now being played behind closed doors at the Crucible having previously been due to be one of the small number of pilot events for the safe return of spectators to live sport.

However, that was cancelled following the government’s announcement on Friday that the easing of certain restrictions had been postponed.

The World Snooker Tour, meanwhile, has announced nine tournaments will now take place between September and December.

The 2020/21 season will begin with the Matchroom Multi Sport promoted Championship League, which will be played over three legs between September 13 and 20, September 28 and October 5 and October 23 and October 27.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The European Masters will be played between September 21 with the Home Nations series tournaments also being staged before Christmas with the English Open between October 12 and 18, the Northern Ireland Open between November 16 and 22 and the Scottish Open between December 7 and 13.

The quick-fire Shoot Out takes place from October 29 to November 1, followed by the Champion of Champions from November 2 to 8.

The first Triple Crown event of the campaign, the UK Championship at the York Barbican, runs from November 24 to December 6.

And the first event of the Coral Series, the World Grand Prix, has been brought forward to December 14 to 20.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

All venues for these events will be confirmed in due course, with decisions pending as to whether tournaments will be played with a live crowd or behind closed doors, depending on government guidelines.