Scottish Open 2023: Kyren Wilson blitzes Jordan Brown, defending champion Gary Wilson battles back from brink of defeat

‘The Warrior’ restricted his opponent to a little over three minutes of table time in four frames and made three centuries in what was described as “the performance of the week” by Eurosport’s Alan McManus.

“I think I’ve sort of sounded like a bit of a broken record, I’ve known that my game has been there, I’ve known that my form’s there, I’ve just not really had the results to back it up,” Wilson reflected afterwards.

“It’s nice to finally put both together and I’m pleased with that.”

The Englishman set the tone for what was to come with a brilliant 126 break in the opener before Brown had a chance to respond in the next frame.

But the Northern Irishman broke down on one after missing a straightforward pink and Wilson made him pay with a break of 74.

Brown had another opportunity in the third frame, but again failed to reach double digits before his opponent knocked in a 129 and then completed a quick-fire victory with a third century of the match.

Earlier in the afternoon session, Gary Wilson recovered from the brink of defeat against Xing Zihao to keep his hopes of defending his Scottish Open title alive.

Wilson was second best across the opening four frames and fell 3-1 behind in the best-of-seven encounter, but responded emphatically to win 4-3 and advance through to the last 32.

He will meet Joe O’Connor in the next round in a repeat of last year’s final.

“I’m just relieved, I thought I was dead and buried,” Wilson told Eurosport. “I was struggling so bad in the first half of the match.

“I also think my tip has gone really soft and I don’t think that’s helping. I think I’m struggling but I think that’s making it even worse.

“I expected to lose to be honest, but every now and again you get a bit of a chance to get back into it and I needed them sitting pretty, otherwise I was never going to pot one, but I got there in the end.”

Xing wrapped up the opening frame following a Wilson error before the defending champion hit back in the next.

Wilson broke down on 63, which allowed Xing to battle back to make it a three-ball shoot-out, before a fluke on the blue and a brilliant long pink eventually brought him level at 1-1.

Xing re-established his lead after a loose safety from Wilson and was poised to make a century before he took on a more difficult green and missed it on 90.

Wilson’s struggles continued in the fourth frame. He came to the table 45 behind with just 35 remaining before Xing laid an expert snooker to force the concession and move within one of victory.

But from the brink, the Englishman rattled off back-to-back centuries to level and set up a decider. A 130 total clearance wasn’t positionally perfect, but he displayed all his battling qualities to pot his way out of trouble, and the shutout continued in the sixth frame as a break of 125 made it 3-3.

With the balls all over the table, Wilson then completed his unlikely comeback with a knock of 66 to win 4-3 and book his spot in the third round.