Wilson – Dad Duties Won’t Affect My Job
Kyren Wilson scored three 4-0 wins at the Paul Hunter Classic on Saturday, and insisted the upcoming birth of his second child will not affect his snooker schedule.
The Warrior wasted little energy in dismissing Kurt Dunham, Jamie Curtis-Barrett and Alan McManus from the ranking event in Germany to reach the last 16. He compiled five breaks over 50 in the process, his top run 95.
The 25-year-old from Kettering is soon to become a dad again, with wife Sophie due to give birth to second son Bailey on September 19th. But the world number 13 is keeping his focus firmly on his profession.
“After this event I am going to Thailand for the Six Red World Championship, and then to Yushan for the World Open,” he said. “I’m just hoping that the baby comes before I go to Thailand, or in between that event and China. My wife has been very good and just told me to get on with playing because snooker is my job.
“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into a lot of tournaments. Last season i missed a couple and I felt like I wasn’t a proper snooker player. This time I have vowed to play in everything I can. It’s an exciting time to be a snooker player.
“It’s tough here in Fürth because it’s humid so we have to get used to the conditions. But I have played well in all three matches.”
Mark Selby came from 3-1 down to edge out Joe Swail 4-3 in the last 32. World Champion Selby lost the fourth frame on a respotted black but fought back superbly with breaks of 66, 82 and 51 to win the last three frames.
Selby now meets Michael White, who raced to a 4-0 win over Mike Dunn with a top break of 67. Ian Burns was 3-0 down to Andy Hicks in his opening match but came back to win 4-3 then saw off Alfie Burden 4-2 and Joe O’Connor 4-0. Mark Joyce made a 104 in a 4-1 win over Matthew Stevens.
Mark King top scored with 122 in a 4-1 defeat of Peter Ebdon while Mitchell Mann saw off Oliver Brown by the same scoreline. In the last match to finish, amateur George Pragnall beat David Gilbert 4-3 with breaks of 55 and 41 in the deciding frame.
Last 16 line up (Sunday’s play starts at 10am local time):
Gary Wilson v Chris Wakelin
Peter Lines v Jamie Jones
Ben Woollaston v Tom Ford
Shaun Murphy v Zhao Xintong
Kyren Wilson v Ian Burns
Michael White v Mark Selby
George Pragnall v Mitchell Mann
Mark Joyce v Mark King