Kyren Wilson says desperation to make 147 break made him play wrong shot in maximum hunt at Northern Ireland Open

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Kyren Wilson’s defence of his Northern Ireland Open crown continued on Thursday night with a 4-2 win over He Guoqiang. It was a routine success for the world No. 2 but it did not go exactly to plan, as he paid the price of losing a frame by attempting to play for a maximum. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Northern Ireland Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

'A big blunder' - Wilson misses pink and pots yellow

Video credit: TNT Sports

Kyren Wilson has spoken about the moment he played the wrong shot in a "desperate" attempt to make a maximum break at the Northern Ireland Open.

During the second frame of his 4-2 win over He Guoqiang at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Wilson was on a break of 40 after knocking in five reds and five blacks.

After sinking a sixth red, his attempt to split a cluster did not go according to plan, as he landed slightly out of position.

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Wilson had the opportunity to play a red to the left middle and go up the table for the blue, but he elected to try and keep himself in the hunt for a maximum by playing a red to the left corner.

The shot did not look on, as it required him to play a sizable swerve around another red. In playing the shot, he hit the wrong red and left the table biting his cue in frustration.

To add insult to injury, Wilson saw He emerge from his chair and pick off a break of 79 to level the contest.

Wilson did not pay a heavy price, as he won three of the next four frames to book his place in the quarter-finals.

'Doesn't count if you blow the green in' - Wilson's novel attempt to keep break going after miss

Video credit: TNT Sports

Reflecting on the maximum attempt in an interview with TNT Sports, Wilson said: "I thought I was really unlucky as I played into an area where I am in the middle of the cluster of three.

"I think I am on either ball into each corner pocket, but it’s landed in such a way that I could not pot it. I should not have gone for it but I was desperate for it."

Wilson is bidding to defend the title he won last year, and he is high on confidence.

"I feel so confident and so good this week," Wilson said. "I think there is something about being in Ireland, the people of Belfast always turn out in large numbers so they kind of make you feel really good.

"I kind of feel like I am not going to miss, which every now and again is making me miss as I am taking it for granted. I would rather be feeling like that than feeling like I could not pot a ball."

Wilson has his son Finley with him this week, and the youngster was seen potting balls by the TNT Sports cameras.

"He is fed up of watching me and his nan play scrabble," Wilson said. "So whenever he can he is always trying to pot some balls.

"It is nice to have him with us. We are on tour so much nowadays, so to have him here is good fun."

After wins over Oliver Lines, Ryan Day and He, world No. 2 Wilson has booked a meeting with the winner of the match between Jack Lisowski and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

"I want to make the one-table setup, so the quarter-finals is a big match," Wilson said.

Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Northern Ireland Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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