Wilson is set to face either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals.
Kyren Wilson’s audacious ‘no-look’ attempt on a black ball in his 6-5 victory over Si Jiahui at the Shanghai Masters has drawn attention, as he passed up a chance to make history.
The match was notable for featuring six century breaks, equalling the record for a best-of-11 frame match. This benchmark was previously set by Judd Trump and Neil Robertson at the 2016 Masters, and again in a match between Robertson and Mark Selby in 2020.
Wilson, reaching 97 in the deciding frame, opted for the unconventional ‘no-look’ shot but failed to pot the black.
The Englishman stated he was unaware of the record opportunity, but affirmed it wouldn’t have altered his approach to the shot.
“I did the silly no-look thing,” Wilson acknowledged.
“Particularly in China, where the sport’s popularity is surging, there’s a demand for a more engaging style. It’s about injecting some entertainment. The crowd appreciates that kind of flair.
“Even if I had known about the record, I wouldn’t have simply tapped the black in. It’s about innovating. Snooker is evolving into a modern sport.”
Separately, defending champion Judd Trump secured his advancement with a 6-2 win over Neil Robertson.