Debutant Lei Peifan stunned defending champion Kyren Wilson with a dramatic 10-9 victory in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
The 21-year-old Chinese player held his nerve in a tense deciding frame to secure one of the biggest upsets in recent Crucible history.
Wilson became the latest victim of the infamous "Crucible curse" as his title defence came to an abrupt end on the tournament's opening day.
Wilson had started strongly, bouncing back from losing the opening two frames to establish a commanding 6-3 lead after the first session.
Kyren Wilson was dumped out of the World Championship in the first round
PA
But Lei, who won the Scottish Open in December, produced a remarkable turnaround in the evening session.
The world number 39 won six consecutive frames in "impressive and unflustered style" to lead 9-6.
Wilson fought back valiantly with a century break and won two more frames to force a decider.
Lei ultimately sealed victory with a break of 66 in the final frame.
Lei described his Crucible debut as an emotional experience, saying: "I didn't think I had much chance when the draw came out. But the moment I stepped into the arena and saw the crowd, I just felt so excited."
The young player particularly savoured the deciding frame atmosphere.
"When the curtain came up, it felt like I was in a final," Lei told WST. "It brought back so many childhood memories."
He compared the victory to his Scottish Open triumph, noting: "Both moments are very special to me."
Wilson was philosophical in defeat, telling TNT Sports: "I didn't feel like I did too much wrong early on in the session. It felt like the snooker gods were against me tonight."
The defending champion was gracious towards his opponent.
"Take nothing away from Lei Peifan - he held himself together extremely well as a debutant and I wish him all the best," Wilson said.
Lei Peifan pulled off a remarkable shock victory on his World Championship debut
PA
"I'm absolutely gutted. It kind of feels like the season is wasted losing that match, but that's just the winner in me."
Wilson's early exit continues the notorious "Crucible curse" which has now claimed 20 victims since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977.
No first-time winner has ever successfully defended their title at the iconic venue.
Wilson follows in the footsteps of 2023 champion Luca Brucel, who also saw his title defence end in the first round last year.
Despite arriving at the Crucible in excellent form with four ranking titles this season, Wilson couldn't break the curse.
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Lei will now face either Jak Jones or Zhao Xintong in the second round.
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan praised Lei's development as a player.
"I don't think Kyren played that bad, I think the other guy played well," O'Sullivan told TNT Sports.
"He's played really good snooker today. Great temperament. Hits all solid, fancies his chances, played a great last frame, can obviously play well under pressure."
