Kyren Wilson admitted he was pleased to have taken his chances after beating Barry Hawkins in the first round of the Dafabet Masters. Tuesday’s encounter presented Wilson a tricky opener at the event reserved for the top 16 players in the world and he showed plenty of grit against his fellow Englishman, who produced centuries in two of the first three frames. The key moment in the match came in the final frame when, with Wilson leading 5-4, a fluked red allowed him to maintain his rhythm and go on to clinch the match.
Two-time world champion Mark Williams now awaits in the quarter-finals after the Welshman shocked Mark Selby in the opening round. Wilson is 13/10 to win on Thursday, with his opponent available at 8/13. The 26-year-old’s only previous ranking title win came at the 2015 Shanghai Masters but he has gone close to adding to that tally this season, losing in the finals of both the World and English Opens.
He is currently 14/1 to win at Alexandra Palace and seems in good shape after improving as Tuesday’s contest went on. There is no doubt that the fluke on the red was the defining moment of the match and Wilson admitted he was pleased to have taken advantage. “I was a lucky boy towards the end but I was pleased with the way I took the chance,” said Wilson. “I have had a few flukes against me this season and it is sickening. When you get a bit of luck you have to make it count.”
Dafabet Masters odds available at Dafabet.