Jack Lisowski says he coped with the pressure well in his opening match at the 2018 World Championship and victory over Stuart Bingham proves his game is in good shape. Lisowski is enjoying his best season since turning professional in 2010, having reached the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters and the quarter-finals of the English Open and China Open. The Englishman has risen to a career-best ranking of 30 and he continued his good run of form with a hard-fought 10-7 victory over compatriot Bingham on Tuesday in the first round at the Crucible.
Making just his second appearance in Sheffield and his first since 2013, the 26-year-old made two centuries in the opening three frames and another four breaks of more than 50. It was a composed and professional performance from Lisowski, who plays either qualifier Thepchaiya Un-Nooh or four-time champion John Higgins in the second round, and he is happy with how he is dealing with the pressure. “It was a great win. I felt I never competed last time,” he told BBC Sport. “I was just looking to get comfortable in the game. It’s such a tough set-up to play in if you’re not used to it, but five years have passed and I was able to cope with it a lot better this time. “Stuart is one of the best players in the world, so to win shows that my game has improved.”
Elsewhere, England’s Ricky Walden, who made the semi-final back in 2013, moved into the second round after beating Belgium’s rising star Luca Brecel 10-6. The 35-year-old, who is 66/1 to win the tournament, will play either Judd Trump or Chris Wakelin in the next round.
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