World Snooker Championship 2026: Stan Moody, 19, leads 2024 champion Kyren Wilson at Crucible

England teenager Stan Moody made a hugely impressive debut at the Crucible, taking a 6-3 lead over former winner Kyren Wilson in his World Championship first round match.

Moody, 19, needs four more frames to become the youngest player to win a match at the famous Sheffield theater since 19-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Dave Harold and Darren Morgan before losing to Stephen Hendry in 1995.

2024 champion Wilson will have to win seven frames in the session, which starts at 19:00 BST on Monday evening, if he wants to progress.

After receiving a great reception from the crowd, Moody, who hails from Halifax, less than 50 miles from the Crucible, made an immediate impact with a break of 84.

He then took the next two frames, including the 91-point break, to take a 3–0 lead and Wilson won two consecutive frames. However, Moody responded superbly, making two centuries in three frames, 110 in the sixth frame and 101 two frames later.

Wilson claimed the final frame of the session to reduce the deficit to three.

Moody is ranked 44th in the world and needed to win two matches to qualify.

He was hospitalized with tonsillitis last Tuesday, the day before the last qualifying match. But Moody discharged himself before playing, against medical advice, and beat China’s Jiang Jun 10-9 thanks to a century in the decider to earn his Crucible berth.