Kyren Wilson finds his rhythm, Neil Robertson sinks in Luo Zetao shock

Brentwood, England – where the shots of Kyren Wilson are beginning to find the rhythm lost over many weeks. Against Mateusz Baranowski, a little-known Polish player, Wilson did not need perfect centuries. Two consecutive half-centuries were enough for him to win 4-1 in the first round of the English Open. But behind this seemingly simple victory lies a bigger question: is this a real revival, or just a lucky moment in a season full of instability? And while Wilson found his smile again, Neil Robertson – two-time champion of this tournament – faces a nightmare named Luo Zetao, a world-ranked 117 player from China. The English Open is part of the Home Nations Series, held at the Brentwood Centre from September 12 to 18. This is a tournament where the world's top players all compete, with a total prize fund of £500,000. Kyren Wilson, 34, is going through the most difficult period of his career. He reached the World Championship final twice (2026 and 2026), but this season he has won only 3 of his last 10 matches. Last week, he suffered a heavy defeat to Liam Highfield in the last 32 of the British Open in Cheltenham, a match where he won just one frame. This decline has led people to question the future of the player once nicknamed "The Warrior". Meanwhile, Neil Robertson, 42, the Australian-born English player, is one of the finest players of his generation. He has won the English Open twice (2026 and 2026) and is always highly rated for his attacking ability. However, this season Robertson has also been inconsistent. He lost in the first round at the Shanghai Masters, and only reached the quarter-finals of a minor event. Expectations for him at Brentwood were high, but fate dealt a cruel hand. Let's analyze Wilson's match. He started cautiously, with safety shots and waiting for errors from his opponent. Baranowski, despite his lower ranking (89th), had some flashes of brilliance. However, Wilson showed the difference in class. In the third frame, Wilson executed a perfect long pot to put a red into the corner, then handled the colour sequence with precision, scoring 67 points. This was one of the most memorable shots of the match. His two half-centuries came from situations where he forced his opponent to foul. Crucially, Wilson maintained focus throughout the match, not letting missed shots affect his psychology. Based on my experience following matches, I've noticed that Wilson often loses control when trailing, but today he played very calmly. Perhaps he has learned to control his emotions after recent defeats. As for Robertson, the loss to Luo Zetao was a tragedy. Robertson started well, leading 2-0 with impressive centuries (104 and 98). But from the third frame, things began to go wrong. Robertson started choosing risky shots, like the long red in the fourth frame that he missed, giving Luo Zetao a chance to score 56. In the deciding frame, Robertson had a chance to win when only needing one last red, but he under-hit, leaving the cue ball in the pocket. Luo Zetao capitalized to score 40 and seal the match. Statistics show Robertson only made 2 successful positional shots in the last 4 frames, while Luo Zetao made 7. Robertson's errors were not technical but stemmed from overconfidence in his control. He chose unnecessary risky shots, and his opponent punished them. This reminds me of the phrase I often use: "Error is where reality signs its name." Robertson signed his own sentence. Additionally, Chris Wakelin once again proved his mettle in deciding frames. He beat Louis Heathcote 4-3 in a tense match, his third consecutive win in a final frame. Wakelin, 32, from England, is having an impressive season, having reached the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open. He has a special ability to stay calm under pressure, shown by his 78% success rate on decisive shots this season. Meanwhile, Zhang Anda and Ding Junhui, two Chinese players, also advanced convincingly. Zhang Anda beat Jamie Clarke 4-2, with a century of 112. Ding Junhui defeated Andrew Higginson 4-1, showing steady form. The rise of Chinese snooker is a notable phenomenon, with Chang Bingyu just winning the Wuhan Open, and Luo Zetao beating Robertson. But let's pause for a moment. Does Wilson's victory really mean much? I've followed Wilson for years, and I've realized that wins against weaker players often create a false sense of security. Baranowski is not a formidable opponent, and Wilson only needed to play at 60% capacity to win. The real challenge comes in round two, where he faces Chang Bingyu – the recent Wuhan Open champion. Chang Bingyu is in top form, and Wilson will face a completely different test. I suspect Wilson hasn't addressed the root cause: his lack of consistency in long matches. He can win a short match, but can he maintain physical and mental stamina over a multi-day tournament? In snooker, a first-round win often means little. Remember last season, Wilson won 4-0 in the first round of the UK Championship, but then lost 2-6 in the second round to an unknown player. That's why I'm always cautious about such performances. As for Robertson, this defeat could be a necessary wake-up call. In snooker, sometimes an unexpected loss helps a player reflect. Robertson is a great player, but he tends to rely too much on inspiration. When inspiration doesn't come, he makes mistakes. This loss to Luo Zetao will force Robertson to review his approach. Maybe he'll come back stronger, or maybe he'll continue to decline. It depends on whether he accepts change. I recall in the 2026 season, Robertson went through a streak of 5 consecutive losses, but then he won three major titles. Snooker is a sport of recovery, and great players always know how to rise again. Another point to note is the changing approach of young Chinese players. They no longer play in the old-fashioned way but have adopted modern data analysis, much like I did when analyzing Liverpool U18 matches. Luo Zetao, despite his low ranking, had studied Robertson's weaknesses thoroughly. He knew Robertson often loses focus in the final frames, and he waited for that opportunity. This shows modern snooker is not just about technique but also psychological tactics. Every lineup on the table is a hypothesis waiting to be disproven by reality – and Robertson was brutally disproven. So what happens next? Can Wilson overcome Chang Bingyu and go deep into the tournament? Can Robertson rise from this shock? These questions will be answered in the coming days. But one thing is certain: snooker is a sport of surprises, and those who think they've understood it all will soon be proven wrong. Look at Luo Zetao – a nobody, but on a good day, he can beat a legend. It reminds us that in snooker, nothing is absolute. A high defensive line doesn't collapse because of tactics, but because of absolute belief in tactics. Robertson believed he could control the match with attacking shots, and that led to his downfall. As for Wilson, he may have found his path again, but that path is still long.